The attitude adjustment that the Tigers needed

Bangladesh wrapped up the three-match ODI series against Ireland with an emphatic 10-wicket victory in the final game after a record-breaking display saw the fast bowlers take all 10 wickets in an innings for the first time in any format at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Pacer Hasan Mahmud starred with his maiden five-wicket haul while Taskin Ahmed made the new ball talk and scalped three. Ebadot Hossain also impressed, bagging two wickets as the visitors folded for 101.

Skipper Tamim Iqbal and fellow opener Liton Das made little fuss as they led an authoritative charge and chased down the target in 13.1 overs as Bangladesh won by 10 wickets for the first time in history.

"The batting performances in the first two matches were something we haven't seen before," Tamim said in the post-match interview. "The way we chased down the runs with authority gives a very strong message to the opposition.

While a series win was always expected against Ireland, what set it apart was the attitude that the Tigers showed through the three matches.

The first match saw Tamim's side post their highest-ever total of 338, breaking their previous best of 333 against Australia at the 2019 World Cup. Within 48 hours, the Tigers managed to surpass that by putting on a record 349 in the second ODI thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim, who smashed an unbeaten 60-ball 100, the fastest century by a Bangladesh batter.

Bangladesh's batters also seemed to have left out any lingering baggage from the England series and purposefully edited out any negativity regarding off-field issues. Towhid Hridoy provided a breath of fresh air, rejuvenating the squad, and Shakib Al Hasan's urgency while trying to up the ante with the bat from good platforms was there for everyone to see.

It was  almost reminiscent of Chandika Hathurusingha's first stint as a coach when, according to the players, the Sri Lankan had established a positive and fearless approach to the game, especially in the batting scheme of things.

The 54-year-old might just have been able to reignite that spark with a much-needed attitude adjustment, and this time with much better resources. The Tigers were able to build on their belief and looked to take a proactive approach as each game passed.

That much was evident from what Bangladesh's fast-bowling coach Allan Donald said on Wednesday. He opined Bangladesh could go for 400 if given the chance to bat first again.

The South African also praised Hathurusingha for propagating that aggressive approach amongst the group and giving them the license to play the fearless brand of cricket that helped the Tigers to a 3-0 T20I series win against England.

Such a clinical effort from the Tigers will bring them a load of confidence but it is important not to drum up a contest that was heavily one-sided, with the Tigers taking on a sub-par Ireland bowling line-up that could do little to challenge the Bangladesh batters.

But it is also important to dominate when the opportunity arrives. It is often a hallmark of a 'big' team or a team that wants to brush shoulders with the big guns to display strength against relatively weaker sides. Bangladesh did what was necessary and punished what Ireland offered with authority.