Shakib, Ebadot strike in tandem after cautious Ireland start  

Two wickets in back-to-back overs from Shakib Al Hasan and Ebadot Hossain have left Ireland with an even bigger mountain to climb after the visitors cautiously begun their chase of a daunting 338 in the first ODI of the three-match series between Bangladesh and Ireland at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors are 73 for four after 15.3 overs from 60 for naught after 11.1 overs.

Shakib, who scored 93 earlier, struck in his third over, the innings 12th, to remove opener Stephen Doheny for a 38-ball 34. The right-hander brought his downfall with a tentative poke to a ball that bounced and turned, leading to a caught-behind dismissal. 

Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim was again in the act in the next over from Ebadot Hossain, and this time a brilliant diving catch towards the leg side brought the prized wicket of Paul Stirling (22), who gloved the ball after failing to read the pace and bounce of the delivery.

Ebadot, playing in his home town, was right on the money in his next over as his outswinger got Harry Tector to edge to Mushfiqur, who made no mistake again.   

With the Irish rattled and with two new batters in the middle, skipper Tamim Iqbal reintroduced Taskin Ahmed and it paid dividends to pick the fourth wicket in span of five overs as the Tigers pace spearhead clean bowled Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie with an inswinger.