Ireland threw away a winning position for the third time in five days in Lahore last night and their hopes of qualifying for the 50-overs World Cup are over after another heartbreaking loss to Bangladesh by two wickets.

The Girls in Green could have beaten Pakistan in their opening  match, should have beaten the West Indies on Friday and couldn’t lose to Bangladesh but somehow managed to.

As in their first two games, Ireland dominated the first three-quarters or more of the contest against a higher-ranked team, only to yet again stumble with the winning line in sight.

Laura Delany top scored with 63 from 75 balls after skipper Gaby Lewis had chosen to bat, Orla Prendergast made 41 and Amy Hunter, Lewis herself and Arlene Kelly all added useful contributions to a total of 235-8.

It should have been enough.

Prendergast struck in her first and third overs to have Bangladesh reeling on 2-2, Delany and Kelly claimed a wicket apiece and when skipper Nigar Sultana was caught behind off Jane Maguire for 51 there seemed no way back for her side.

Six dropped catches had cost Ireland dearly against the West Indies, though, and yet again spilled chances proved fatal as Ritu Moni was put down on nought and four.

Moni fought hard to keep Bangladesh in the hunt but when Cara Murray produced a perfect leg break to claim the eighth wicket of Rabeya Khan, the requirement was an improbable 50 runs from 6.5 overs.

The pivotal moment came when Maguire gave Moni a third life, grassing a regulation catch at square leg, that allowed her to reach a first ODI half century — a landmark she celebrated with successive fours.

Prendergast had figures of 2-14 and Ireland desperately needed their best bowler to come to the party but Lewis held her back for the final over and the gamble failed as Bangladesh charged to victory with eight balls to spare.

While Ireland are missing key players, and were not expected to qualify, as he tries to lift his side for tomorrow’s game against Thailand, coach Ed Joyce knows his team really should be top of the six-team table after three games, not joint bottom.