

Horror batting collapse sends Ireland spinning to defeat
A HORRIBLE batting collapse, which, unfortunately, has been the feature of the Ireland Women's season, condemned them to a 10 runs defeat to Bangladesh in their final game yesterday.
After the bowlers had dismissed the Full Member nation for just 106, it was plain sailing for Ireland as Meg Kendal, in her first full game, and Cecilia Joyce put on 52 for the first wicket.
But, incredibly, they then lost all 10 wickets for 44 runs — the last seven for just 18 — to hand Bangladesh the unlikeliest of victories.
In the middle of the mayhem, Rumana Ahmed, with the agreement of umpire Alan Neill, helped herself to a hat-trick of leg before decisions and when Amy Kenealy, the early bowling heroine, was caught in the next over, Ireland has slumped from 84 for four to 85 for eight!
Captain Laura Delany was still at the other end but she too froze in the headlights and, still 11 runs short of the winning post, gave a return catch to leave the last pair of Lucy O'Reilly and Ciara Metcalfe the task of getting Ireland home.
They couldn't even survive the over with O'Reilly's 'yes, no' call giving Metcalfe the impossible task of reaching the other end.
Yet, it was all so different in the first innings with Ireland reducing the Tigers to 25 for five, four of the wickets for Kenealy, including a tremendous catch by Shauna Kavanagh, with a direct hit by O'Reilly from backward point putting Ireland in control.
O'Reilly, the youngest member of the team but who has already played 35 internationals at the age of 16, then broke the stubborn sixth wicket stand of 42 and Kim Garth and Metcalfe brought the innings to a close in the 41st over.
Joyce's wicket, a run out after she was sent back by the captain, proved to be the crucial one as her sister, former captain Isobel turned one straight to backward square shortly afterwards and then came Ahmed.
Garth was the first victim of the 25-year-old Bangladesh leg spinner and Clare Shillington and Mary Waldron were bamboozled by her next two deliveries to set up the sensational finale.
It was only the second completed match of the tour, which had already been shortened to four games, Ireland having won the first by six runs in a 10-over (T20) international at Bready on Monday while the first ODI between the teams on Friday was abandoned after just 18 overs.
It left Ireland's record this summer as played eight, won three, lost five but the batters know it could have been so much better.
- Glanced away by Sanjida Islam
- Isobel Joyce
- Ayasha Rahman lobs to extra cover...
- .... diving catch by Shauna Kavanagh
- Leading edge by Fargana Hoque to point....
- ... caught by Lucy O'Reilly
- Amy Kenealy bowls Rumana Ahmed...
- ... who can't believe it
- Direct throw runs out Nigar Sultana
- Fahima Khatun lobs straight back to the bowler ....
- ... simple catch for Amy Kenealy
- Pulled away by Ritu Moni
- Boundary for Sanjida Islam....
- ... and again
- Ritu Moni yorked by Lucy O'Reilly
- Sanjida Islam goes aerial ....
- ... caught by Cecilia Joyce
- Chance of a run out
- Jahanara Alam in the air...
- .... caught and bowled Ciara Metcalfe
- Another catch for Lucy O'Reilly
- Last bat Panna Ghosh run out
- Pulled away by Cecilia Joyce
- More runs for Cecilia Joyce
- Appeal for lbw but not out
- Meg Kendal
- 4 square by Meg Kendal
- Another huge appeal...
- .... still not out
- Meg Kendal trapped in front....
- ... and umpire's finger is raised
- Shauna Kavanagh bowled first ball
- 4 for Cecilia Joyce
- Bangladesh celebrate the run out of Cecilia Joyce
- Pulled square by Isobel Joyce...
- .... straight into the hands of Panna Ghosh
- Kim Garth trapped lbw...
- .... Rumana Ahmed wins the appeal...
- .... next ball Claire Shillington also lbw....
- ....Mary Waldron also lbw for hatrick by Ruman Ahmed ....
- ... delight for Rumana Ahmed
- Amy Kenealy to extra cover....
- ... caught by Rumana Ahmed
- Laura Delany chips back to the bowler....
- And a run out ends the game...
- Squad jump for joy
- Player of the series Rumana Ahmed
- The series trophy was shared - Cricket Ireland President Henry Tighe with
Captains Jahanar Alam and Laura Delany