ICC T20 World Cup qualifier: Bangladesh edge out Ireland in Abu Dhabi final

Ireland skipper Laura Delany's three wickets helped restrict Bangladesh to 120-8 but her side struggled when they batted

Bangladesh edged out Ireland by seven runs in the Women's T20 World Cup qualifier final in Abu Dhabi.

Both sides had already qualified for February's tournament in South Africa following their semi-final wins.

Bangladesh posted 120-8 from their 20 overs with Fargana Hoque their top scorer with 61 as Ireland skipper Laura Delany took three wickets.

Ireland struggled from the off in their reply as tail-ender Arlene Kelly top-scored for them with an unbeaten 28.

Key opener Gaby Lewis was dismissed for only four in the second over and the Ireland wickets continued to tumble throughout the innings.

Their top partnership was the 38 put on for the ninth wicket by New Zealand-born Kelly and Cara Murray.

After winning the toss, the Bangladesh openers started cautiously with two runs from the first 10 balls, but soon after it was the experienced Hoque who began to find the boundary as she notched seven fours before being dismissed in the 17th over.

The Irish bowlers kept their line mainly wicket-to-wicket and finished much the stronger side with the last 25 balls producing six wickets for just 24 runs as Delany's last over delivered a remarkable three wickets for three runs.

Sensing pace-off on a slow pitch under lights was the best approach, Bangladesh bowled spin for all 20 overs of the Irish reply.

From the moment opener Lewis was deceived by left-arm off-spinner Shanjida Maghla in the second over - bowled through the gate - the Irish batters rarely looked settled.

Delany (12 from 22 balls) and Eimear Richardson (18 from 15 balls) gave Irish fans a brief sense of hope with a counter-attacking 23-run stand for the fourth wicket, but the regular fall of wickets proved too much in the end despite Kelly's composed unbeaten knock.