The first of the five ICC Women’s World T20 warm-up matches to be played in Guyana commenced in calm and cool conditions prevailing at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Bangladesh had lots to celebrate after winning the toss at Providence on Sunday (John Ramsingh photo)
Bangladesh won this encounter by six wickets, chasing Ireland’s 84 comfortably.
Opting to bowl first under cloudy conditions, the Bangladeshi women got off to a perfect start, with opening bowler Jahanara Alam removing the experienced Ireland batter Clare Shillington for 2 in the third over of the match. Maintaining their accuracy, the Bangladeshi bowlers conceded only 23 runs in the power play.
The 17-year-old Irish batter Gabby Lewis made her way to the crease, and hit Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun for a boundary with the fifth ball she faced. Wrist spinner Rumana Ahmed was introduced at the Pavilion end, where she troubled the Irish batters with her tempting deliveries. Her first victim was Rebecca Stokell, who was stumped brilliantly by the efficient Bangladeshi wicketkeeper Shamima Sultana for 5.
Sanjida Islam on the go during her match-winning innings against Ireland at Providence on Sunday night (John Ramsingh photo)
Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals, as Ahmed removed the Irish skipper for 1. The Bangladeshi women bowled a disciplined line and length around the off-stump line, causing the Irish women great difficulty to score briskly.
Gabby Lewis, who looked threatening, was the only Irish batter with a strike rate over 100, but she was removed for 15, which included two boundaries.
Number seven batter Kimberly Garth looked to rebuild the innings and take her team to a respectable total, but her teammates offed little support. Garth was the top-scorer with a stroke-filled 34 from 35 deliveries, which included three fours and the only maximum in the innings.
Garth dumped fast bowling all-rounder Lata Mondal over deep square leg boundary in the sixteenth over, but
Medium-pacer Alam, returning for her second spell, dislodged Garth stumps in the final over of the innings.
Bangladesh celebrating the dismissal of Kim Garth, who was run out for 34 (John Ramsingh photo)
The best Bangladeshi bowler on show was 27-year-old leg spinner Rumana Ahmed, who grabbed 3-9 in four overs. She had an economy rate of 2.2, inclusive of a wicket maiden bowled to Irish captain Laura Delany. Medium pacer Jahanara Alam bowled a consistent line and length to end with 2 for 11 in three overs.
In pursuit of Ireland’s 84, the Bangladeshi women encountered minor hiccups. They blazed away in the power play to amass 37 runs, but after the power play, wickets came in proverbial bunches for the Irish bowlers.
The run-out of Bangladeshi opener Shamina Sultana sparked a mini-collapse influenced by all-rounder Kim Garth. Bowling the seventh over, Garth’s second delivery removed Ayasha Rahman for a fluent 25. Continuing her brilliance, she struck with her fifth and sixth deliveries, finding herself on a hat trick. Faragana Hoque and Sanjida Islam, however, ensured that Garth and Ireland cause no further damage. The duo saw their team to victory with an unbeaten 48- run partnership, with Hoque completing the chase with a boundary.
Kimberly Garth returned figures of 3 for 4 from her two overs. Bangladesh, finishing on 86-4 with 32 balls to spare, won the first warm-up match by six wickets.
In addition to the practice match, the two teams engaged in a super over match for practice purposes. The super over, bowled by Ahmed, saw Ireland batting first and scoring 5 for 2, losing Shillington and Lewis. Bangladesh easily chased the target, finishing on 8 in the super over. Rahaman and Islam were the not-out batters.
Prior to the official matches scheduled for Friday, the Bangladeshi women have gained confidence ahead of their first encounter.
