Third Twenty20 international, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet
Bangladesh Women 123-7 (20 overs): Mostary 45, Supta 34; Prendergast 4-22, Maguire 2-25
Ireland Women 124-6 (19.5 overs): Delany 36*, Hunter 28; Khan 2-17
Ireland win by four wickets
A thrilling finish from Laura Delany crushed Bangladesh women’s hopes of avoiding a series sweep, as Ireland clinched a dramatic four-wicket win in the final T20I at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday (Dec 9). The victory sealed a 3-0 series whitewash for the visitors. Delany, unbeaten on 36 off 31 balls, displayed nerves of steel in the final over, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Shorna Akter to chase down Bangladesh’s modest total of 123 with just one ball to spare. Ireland wrapped up the game at 124-6 in 19.5 overs, marking their first-ever T20I series win against the Tigresses.
Ireland completed a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in the Twenty20 series in Sylhet by securing a penultimate-ball victory in the concluding game.
The hosts looked set to clinch a consolation win in Monday's contest but three consecutive boundaries in the final over by ex-skipper Laura Delany helped the tourists clinch a four-wicket victory.
Career-best bowling figures of 4-22 by Orla Prendergast helped restrict the Tigresses to 123-7 after Ireland captain Gaby Lewis had won the toss.
The hosts looked set for a big total as a 71-run partnership between Sobhana Mostary (45) and Sharmin Supta (34) moved them to 104-1 by the 14th over.
However, Aimee Maguire dismissed both before Prendergast went on to take three further wickets as she completed the T20 series with another impressive bowling performance following her earlier figures of 3-24 and 3-13.
In Ireland's reply, Lewis (21) and Amy Hunter (28) put on 55 runs for the opening wicket inside eight overs which included 47 from the powerplay.
However, Jannatul Ferdus dismissed Hunter with Lewis, Leah Paul and Prendergast soon departing to leave the tourists on 70-4.
A 33-run partnership between Delany and Rebecca Stokell steadied the Ireland innings but Bangladesh looked favourites at the start of the final over with the tourists requiring 15 for victory.
However, Delany hit Shorna Akter for three straight boundaries to snatch victory as the Irish completed their white-ball tour with a clean sweep in the T20 series following Bangladesh's triumph in the one-day games by the same margin.
Although the Tigresses had dominated the ODI series with a 3-0 win, Ireland’s historic T20I triumph showcased their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, marking a significant achievement for the visitors.
Ireland will be next in action when they travel to India in January for three one-day internationals.
