Bangladesh cricketers (L-R ) celebrate Rumana Ahmed, Jahanara Alam, Sanijda Islam and Salma Khatun taking a wicket of Ireland during their ICC World Cup Qualifier Super Six match against Ireland in Colombo yesterday. ICC PHOTO

Bangladesh women showcased their ruthless performance with a stunning seven-wicket victory over Ireland in their opener of the Super Six in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground in Sri Lanka yesterday.

Bangladesh skipper Rumana Ahmed decided to field first after winning the toss so that she could use her bowling battery against Ireland. The decision she taken to bowl first finally justified when her company skittled Ireland out for a paltry 144 what they comfortably hunt down with 10.5 overs to spare.

Pacer Jahanara Alam brought the breakthrough for Bangladesh when she got rid of Cecelia Joyce and Kim Garth in her successive two overs while Ireland slumped to 15 for two inside nine overs.

Together with Clare Shillington, Meg Kendal therefore attempted to steady the innings and hit 45-run for the third wicket stand, which gave a solace to the Irish fortress for the time being.

But Khadija Tul Kubra and Salma Khatun yet again unruffled the Irish when Kubra removed opener Kendal and Salma accounted for Shillington in the space of three runs. Shillington got out for 37.

Then Isobel Joyce tried to fight back and shared a useful 44-run with Gaby Lewis for the fifth wicket stand, which crossed the 100-run mark.

This time seamer Panna Ghosh trapped Isobel Joyce lbw and Kubra victimized Lewis as her second prey in the gap of just two runs. Skipper Laura Delany fought hard to stretch the total with Mary Waldron and pulled together 28-run for the seventh wicket. But Delany could not get ably support from the other end as wickets were tumbling at regular interval and Ireland wrapped up for 144 with 17 balls to spare. Delany was the last batsman who fell for 37.

Jahanara Alam was the most successful bowler, who picked up three wickets. Rumana Ahmed, Panna Ghosh and Khadija Tul Kubra snapped up two wickets for the winners.

In their pursuit, Bangladesh got off to a solid start when they put on 40 through their openers-Sharmin Sultana (22) and Sharmin Akhter. After the fall of Sultana, they also mislayed Sanjida Islam shortly. Sharmin Akhter then stitched together 53-run with Farzana Haque for the third wicket. Sharmin smashed 52 off 86 with five fours before caught behind.

Finally, Farzana partnered with Rumana Ahmed and sailed the team home. Farzana remained at stumps on 34 with Rumana scoring 24.

Bangladesh eves’ will next face-off their Indian counterparts at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo on Friday.

(Published 2017/01/02 at 12:29 am)