Say what you want about this Irish side, their games are not dull. The only problem is they keep coming out on the wrong side of the thrill factor. For the third time in six days, Ireland may well be asking themselves, ‘How in the name of god did we lose that?’

Needing to pull off the highest chase in their history, Bangladesh were 94-5 just over halfway through their innings. Total control might be a strong characterisation, but Ireland were undoubtedly favourites.

Not for the first time this week, Ireland showed their lack of killer edge. Their inexperience in finishing off tight matches in a competitive series reared its ugly head. The scorecard says Ritu Moni ended unbeaten on 67 in a player of the match display, finding the fence seven times as she put her side on her back. The reality is she was dropped twice. Yet again, Ireland created the chances to win but could not take them. Their profligacy has cost them a spot in the World Cup, a third consecutive defeat eliminating them from contention with two games to go.

Ava Canning in action for Ireland against Bangladesh. (Cricket Ireland)

Initially, this contest featured a series of healthy firsts for Ireland. The first time they batted first in these qualifiers. The first time they passed 200 with the bat. The first time a batter reached a half-century this week, Laura Delany notching 63.

After struggling all week in the heat, perhaps today’s later start stood to Ireland. The cooler afternoon/evening conditions, combined with general acclimatisation two games in, was leading to better results. Another slow start in the powerplay was followed by the rate increasing as batters stayed in. The oft-feared lower order collapse did not materialise as Arlene Kelly hit 24 off 17 balls in an unbeaten cameo.

The momentum built by that finish carried over into the bowling innings. Orla Prendergast came up with the new ball flourish Ireland were always going to need at this tournament. Bangladesh were 2-2 in the fifth over, a pair of edges behind doing the damage. Prendergast bowled five overs up top, returning to send down the 29th. That was the last we saw of her, Ireland’s best bowler not featuring as the game disintegrated.

Prendergast has been on an over limit of 7 all week - load management the reason - despite this being the biggest event of the year. She bowled six overs today and was not called upon even with Moni knocking Ireland out of the competition. Perhaps there is a niggle we don’t know about. Maybe she was being held back to bowl the 50th over, only for Moni to kill the game in the 49th. Portugal once held Ronaldo back for the 5th penalty in a shootout. They lost in four, their talisman never taking a spot kick.

At one point this looked to be a performance that would lead to collective praise. Five Irish batters passed 20. All six bowlers used took a wicket, no one earning more than two scalps. Dropped catches were still a factor, but when Jane Maguire leapt to snare Jannatul Ferdus at mid wicket in the 41st over, it looked like Ireland had learned to forget past mistakes and take the chances that mattered.

If only. Moni was put down by Maguire in the 48th over with the game on the line. This after Canning also spilled the match-winner when she was back on 4. Isobel Joyce, the former Ireland captain, put up a good video explaining how Ireland’s catching issues are likely due to poor footwork leaving fielders in bad catching positions. Given what was on the line tonight, pressure also looked to be a crippling factor.

By contrast, Bangladesh had exactly what Ireland lacked: a player capable of single-handedly snatching victory when defeat looked certain. The contribution of Nahida Akter, 18 not out off 17, was crucial in giving Moni the strike. Do Ireland have a number 10 capable of such mistake-free cricket with the game on the line?

The talent is there from this Irish side to compete at this level. They don’t get into these winning positions without it. But there is an extra gear lacking, one which has been ruthlessly exposed across the past six days. Post-mortems into the structural issues which hamper this side will come in due course but nothing will change a disappointing truth. When it mattered, Ireland dropped the ball. Literally and figuratively.

Good coaches always say winning is a habit. It’s a cliché, but clichés exist for a reason. This week, in the biggest tournament of most of these players’ careers so far, Ireland forgot how to win.