Ireland Women secured their first win of their tour to Bangladesh when they beat the home side by 12 runs in the first T20 international of the three-match series.
Action began with captain Gaby Lewis winning the toss and opting to bat first on what looked a very good wicket. Bangladesh's bowlers kept the Ireland top order quiet with the early wickets of Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast at the end of the powerplay.
Player of the match Leah Paul then joined Lewis with two complementing each other very well at the crease and beginning to cause headaches for the hosts. Paul in particular found her groove scoring a remarkable 79 not out, her first T20 50 to go with a half-century from Lewis, her second in two games.
A target of 169-5, the highest ever Women’s T20I total in Bangladesh by a touring team, looked to have matters firmly in Ireland’s favour. But the home side got off to a very healthy start with a hundred partnership for the first wicket.
A first wicket from Orla Prendergast to remove Sobhana Mostary quickly brought another with Arlene Kelly sending Sultana Joty back to the pavilion. Aimee Maguire then came into the attack to take the third wicket and with it momentum radically shifted to Ireland in the second half of the chase.
Another key moment was an excellent catch by Lewis to remove Dilara Akter. But the decisive one may well have been the double wicket maiden by Orla Prendergast in the nineteenth over.
The equation was now 18 required off six balls. For extra drama, Ireland had to have an extra fielder in the inner ring for not bowling their overs quick enough. However one run off the first ball and a wicket off the second capped off a very strong performance from Arlene Kelly as she closed out the match.
Both sides face each other again on Saturday morning at 8am (Irish time).
