Bangladesh women's team achieved their most significant victory by runs in the one-day format, defeating Ireland by 154 runs in the first WODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Defending their highest score in this format, 252-4, the Bangladeshi bowlers delivered an outstanding performance, giving the Irish batters no opportunity in the chase and dismissing them for a mere 98 runs in 28.5 overs, securing a comprehensive win over the visitors.
Earlier, Sharmin Akhter narrowly missed out on her maiden century, but her career-best 96 off 89 balls propelled the Bangladesh women's team to their highest ever total in WODIs after opting to bat first upon winning the toss.
The previous highest score for the Bangladesh women's team in ODIs was 250-3, achieved against South Africa in East London in December last year.
Sharmin, playing her first international match since July 2023, struck 14 fours in her splendid innings, which ended in the penultimate over when she was caught at mid-off by Freya Sargent while attempting to reach the three-figure mark with a boundary.
Opener Fargana Hoque also contributed significantly, scoring 61 off 110 balls and forming a solid 59-run opening partnership with Murshida Khatun (38 off 61), laying the foundation for Sharmin to launch an assault on the Irish bowlers.
For Ireland, off-spinner Sargent took 2-51, while Laura Delaney and Aimee Maguire claimed one wicket each.
Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter provided a double breakthrough in the third over of the Irish innings, dismissing skipper Gaby Lewis (five) and Amu Hunter (0) with consecutive deliveries, though she could not complete the hat-trick.
Opener Sarah Forbes and Laura Delany scored 25 and 22 runs respectively, but the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals and fell well short of the target.
Sultana Khatun and Nahida Akter each took three wickets, while Marufa claimed two.
Bangladesh's previous largest victory by runs was against South Africa, where they won by 119 runs in the same match they recorded their previous highest total.
With this victory, Bangladesh leads the three-match series 1-0. The second match is scheduled for Saturday at the same venue.
