Dec 10,2024
Laura Delany's terrific three-boundary haul in the final over saw Ireland beat Bangladesh with one ball to spare in the third T20I, completing a historic 3-0 clean sweep in Sylhet.
Ireland captain Gaby Lewis had won the toss and put Bangladesh into bat, the hosts starting with intent, racking up 33 runs from the first 25 balls.
However, an Orla Prendergast slower ball induced a false stroke by Murshida Khatun (12), who could only pop the ball up on the leg side. Prendergast reacted quickly in her follow through and dived forward, grasping the ball millimetres above the turf.
At the halfway stage of the Bangladesh innings the run rate was a healthy 7.90 runs per over, with the Asian side looking on track for a 170+ score.
Aimee Maguire (2-25) began the fightback, with a career-best 4-22 by Prendergast slamming the brakes on the Bangladesh scoring rate to finish on just 123-7 from their 20 overs.
Prendergast finished the three-match T20I series with 10 wickets with returns of 3-24, 3-13 and 4-22.
With 124 the target, Amy Hunter (28) and Gaby Lewis (20) sprang into action, taking 47 off the powerplay – the pair’s 50-partnership coming off just 39 balls.
Shortly after, both were back in the pavilion and the Bangladesh bowlers sensed a way back into the contest.
The Irish run rate dropped dramatically – wickets tumbled and the boundaries dried up as the modest target began to appear more challenging
However, with 15 needed from the last over, up stepped Delany (36*), striking three consecutive boundaries in the last over to get Ireland home on the penultimate ball.
The Irish women have now completed their first-ever multi-format tour of Bangladesh, finishing with an historic 3-0 T20I series win. The squad will be back on the road in January when they tour India for three ODIs.
