Tigers’ T20 dominance continues

Bangladesh continued their dominance in the shortest format as they registered a 22-run victory [via Duck Worth Lewis and Stern method] over Ireland in a rain-affected contest at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Monday. 

After beating the world champions England 3-0 in T20Is at home earlier this month, Bangladesh now lead the three-match T20I series 1-0 against Ireland as the Tigers set the record for their best streak in the format with four wins on the trot.  

Bangladesh posted 207 for five in 19.2 overs, their third highest total in T20Is, before rain halted play in the port city. It was also only the fourth time the Tigers crossed the 200-run mark in the shortest format.

Chasing the revised target of 104 from eight overs, Ireland ended up on 81 for five. Pacer Taskin Ahmed registered his career-best bowling figures of four for 16 from his two overs which is also the third-best bowling figure by a Bangladeshi pacer in the format.

The tall seamer bagged three Irish wickets in the fourth over to break the backbone of the visitors' top order as Taskin continued to impress with his consistency in the Tigers' growing fast bowling unit.

Earlier, Liton Das and Rony Talukdar gave Bangladesh a blistering start after the Tigers were sent to bat on a gloomy day. The hosts scored a total of 81 runs in the Powerplay -- the highest for Bangladesh in the first six overs in T20Is.

Rony smashed his maiden T20I fifty, scoring a 38-ball 67-run knock that included three sixes and seven fours, while Liton was dismissed after a 23-ball 47 to lay the foundation for a big total.