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Despite an all-out fight led by Eimear Richardson, the Irish women’s team suffered an opening day defeat in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.
Bangladesh captain Niger Sultana Joty’s 67, along with Salam Khatun’s bowling (3-18), was an excellent performance by the Irish rivals in very wet conditions and in the lights of Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
The maximum temperature during the day is 38 degrees Celsius, and it is still 29 degrees at night. After winning the toss, Bangladesh opted to bat first, perhaps to take advantage of evening conditions before the infamous Abu Dhabi dew came into effect.
The Irish bowlers came loose early, partly because sweat made it difficult for them to get a firm grip on the ball. However, the Irish bowlers stuck to their mandate, with Eimear Richardson taking the wicket of Murshida Khatun (16) in the fifth. The right arm spinner went around the wicket, allowing the ball to go into the southpaw, hitting her back leg for a lbw.
Richardson’s reintroduction, bowling with captain Laura Delany, slowed down midway through the game, with Shamima Sultana and Joty in 88-1 after 14 rounds. The third ball of the fifteenth over Delaney broke a stellar 62-point partnership as she trapped Sultana (48) lbs, just two points shy of her half-century.
Despite the loss of Sobhana Mostary (4), Bangladesh captain Joty went on to score 67 points from 53 balls, 39 of which came from the last three rounds, before she fell while trying to hit six on the last ball. Bangladesh finished 143-4 in the round of 20.
Needing a positive start, Ireland lost the opener 0-0 after paddling the ball to their own stump. Orla Prendergast followed and she cut one in the back.
Delaney joined Amy Hunt to stabilize the innings – with both batsmen looking remarkably composed at the crease – however, after a 45-year-old’s third wicket teamed up, Hunt (32) ran out, at The tenth inning left the Irish innings 50-3.
Ireland’s chase looked lonely as Delaney (28) fell behind on the 13th, but an interesting late cameo from Eimear Richardson gave Ireland a distant hope. What Richardson needed was a buddy to be with her, but the wicket plummeted and hope – no matter how faint – was dashed. Richardson ended up dropping 40 from 26 balls as Ireland trailed by 14 points.
Ireland will reignite their qualifying session tomorrow when they face the United States at 4pm (Irish time).
143-4 (20 points; N Joty 67, S Sultana 48; E Richardson 1-20)
129 (19.4 points; E Richardson 40, Hunters 33; S Khatun 3-19)
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