Tigresses seal Ireland ODI series

A half-century from Fargana Hoque and useful contributions from Sharmin Akhter and Nigar Sultana Joty guided Bangladesh women's team to a five-wicket win against Ireland in the second WODI and as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka today.

Opener Fargana made 50 off 89 balls while Sharmin made 43 and skipper Joty hit a brisk 40 off 39 balls to take Bangladesh to 197-5 in 43.5 overs.

This is also Tigresses' highest successful run chase in the 50-over format. Earlier they had chased down 167 against Pakistan in Mirpur in November, 2023.

In the chase, Bangladesh lost opener Murshida Khatun for six in the fifth over. Fargana and Sharmin then formed an 85-run second wicket stand to steady the innings.

Fargana and Sharmin departed in quick succession, putting Bangladesh in a spot of bother with the score at 107-3 after 29.2 overs.

Sobhana Mostary (16) did not hang around, becoming Laura Delany's second scalp of the match. But skipper Joty alongside Shorna Akter then formed a 53-run stand off just 40 balls to place the team on the verge of victory.

Joty departed with just 11 needed to win and Shorna remained unbeaten on 25 alongside Fahima Khatun (four) to complete the victory.

Earlier, despite Amy Hunter's 68, Ireland could muster only 193-6 in their 50 overs after winning the toss. Sultana Khatun took a couple of wickets for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh won the first ODI by 154 runs.