That's all we have for you from the live coverage between Bangladesh Women and Ireland Women. A thumping performance by the home team as they have registered a massive victory and have taken a lead in this ODI Series (1-0). Do join us for the second match of the series on Saturday!
For now, this is Arjun Bhalla signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ninaad Dixitwho, along with scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal brought all the actions of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. CHEERS!
Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh Captain): "I am very pleased with the performance. It was brilliant to see how Fargana Hoque and Sharim Akter batted today, but Fargana should have batted like Sharim did. She should have gone for more runs. But, I am very happy for here. The bowlers performed even better. The fielders were on point as well, look how Shorna Akter pulled two run outs today. We look to take forward the momentum in the upcoming matches."
Player of the Match: Sharim Akhter
Gaby Lewis (Ireland Captain): "Tricky day for us, but we a got a lot of learning from this game. We did make various chances with the ball. Hopefully, we will bag those in the coming matches. Yes, Sharim Akhter took the game away from us. But we will come back strongly in the next match.
Time for post-match presentation.
3:14 PM IST 2:44 PM Local: Bangladesh have started this series with a brilliant win of 154 runs against Ireland Women. The home team have dismantled the European nation in the first match of the first-ever bilateral match between these two nations.
After putting on a massive score of 252/4 - Bangladesh's highest ever in ODIs, the bowlers started off magically. Marufa Akter bowled a dreamy spell with the new ball, taking two overs during her four-over spell.
Sarah Forbes and Orla Prendergast then tried to revive the innings, by showing some resistance during their third wicket stand. However, Nahida Akter broke that stand with the latter's wicket. Nahida snapped two more wickets, while Sultana Khatun also snared three wickets.
The Irish batters never got in a flow during their 253-run chase, and as a result, they were folded for 98.
Earlier in the day, for Bangladesh, Fargana Hoque laid the foundation with a patient 110-ball 61. And after her dismissal, Sharim Akter and Nigar Sultana decided to traumatise the tourists with their 60-run stand. Sharim Akhter fall four runs short of a deserving century, while the skipper smashed a fiery 28. Shorna Akter and Sobhana Mostary gave the finish as Bangladesh summed up their innings on 252/4.