Clinical Tigers ease to 6-wicket win

A clinical Bangladesh team continued their winning run in the ongoing tri-nation ODI series, registering a comfortable six-wicket win over Ireland in a dead rubber at the Clontarf Cricket Club ground yesterday.

Chasing a challenging target of 293, the Tigers cruised home losing only four wickets with 42 balls in hand, thanks to a collective effort from the batsmen.

Liton Das, who was slotted in to open the innings in place of Soumya Sarkar, grabbed the opportunity with both hands, stringing a solid 117-run stand for the opening wicket with Tamim Iqbal.

Tamim, however, was dismissed soon after reaching his 46th ODI fifty as the left-hander was bowled by Boyd Rankin for 57 off 53 balls.

However, the Tigers’ team management, who wanted to test bench strength, were surely satisfied seeing Liton in such fine form. The stylish righthander played a brisk knock of 76 off 67 balls, featuring nine fours and a six, before being dismissed.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim then added 64 runs for the third wicket before the latter was dismissed for 35. Bangladesh, however, never looked to lose grip on the game despite Shakib retiring hurt with a side strain after reaching his half-century as another experienced batsman, Mahmudullah Riyad, remained unbeaten on 35 to clinch an easy win.

Earlier, Bangladesh paid the price for dropping catches, allowing Ireland opener Paul Stirling to register his eighth ODI century.

Pacer Abu Jayed, who got another chance followed by his dismal ODI debut against the West Indies, bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in just his second game. The right-arm seamer ended up giving away 58 runs from his nine overs, but was the most successful bowler for the Tigers.

Stirling was dropped twice in consecutive deliveries. Sabbir Rahman dropped him off Mosaddek Hossain off the last ball of the 21st over before Mohammad Saifuddin gave him another reprieve off Shakib in the first ball of the 22nd over. 

Having survived two scares, Stirling, along with skipper William Porterfield, registered a record 174-run third wicket stand for Ireland, helping the hosts post a fighting total where they added 99 runs in the last 10 overs.

Porterfield missed out his 12th ODI hundred by just six runs when he was dismissed by Jayed while Stirling departed after scoring 130 off 141 balls, featuring eight fours and four sixes.

Bangladesh team management tinkered with the playing eleven to give opportunity to other players in the squad for this dead rubber, making four changes from the previous game ahead of the final against West Indies tomorrow.