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Farzana Haque hit her third consecutive fifty while Sharmin Akter smashed a blistering 72 off 88 balls as the Bangladesh women’s team beat Ireland by seven wickets in the third and final ODI to secure a 3-0 clean sweep at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.

The duo put on a record partnership of 143 runs as the hosts stormed to 186-3 in 37.3 overs, after Ireland were bundled out for 185 in 50 overs.

This was only the third time that Bangladesh has swept an opponent in an ODI series. They also took all six ICC Championship points available from the series and boosted their chances of directly qualifying for the next year’s World Cup in India. 

Batting first, Ireland were bowled out for below 200 for the second match running. Six of the Irish batters got a start, but only captain Gaby Lewis (52) could score a fifty. 

All the wickets were taken by the spinners, with Fahima Khatun being the peak of the bowlers with three. Pacer Marufa Akter was concussed while fielding and was replaced by Ritu Moni. 

Both of them were wicketless. 

In reply, Murshida Khatun fell cheaply in the fifth over of the innings. But Farzana and Sharmin kept Ireland frustrated for a long time. 

Their partnership is the highest for Bangladesh for any wicket in ODIs. None of them, though, could push for a hundred as Sharmin fell in the 33rd over while Farzana followed her team-mate one over later after scoring 61 off 99. 

Captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Sobhana Mostary then took the hosts home comfortably. 

Sharmin, who hit a record 211 runs for Bangladesh in the series and was named player of the match, thanked Bangladesh men’s team current senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin for his support when she was outside the national squad.

‘He’s been supporting me since my childhood. Maybe it’s for their support that I’m still playing cricket,’ said Sharmin of Salahuddin. 

‘I’ve been preparing for where my weaknesses were, where I wasn’t doing good,’ she added. ‘Now I’ve returned to the national team and performed. It felt good.’ 

Meanwhile, Farzana, who was also adjudged player of the series, mentioned that her work ethic paid off. 

‘I’ve had that eagerness of playing long innings. My determination is strong too. I believe that I can play long innings,’ said Farzana. 

‘Of course I’ll have to practice playing shots. Because you’ve got to score runs too, not only play for long’, the opener added.