Bangladesh clinch series over Ireland with thrilling win in 3rd ODI

An inspired bowling effort at the death helped Bangladesh clinch the third and final ODI of the three-match series against Ireland by four runs in Chelmsford on Sunday.

The win meant Bangladesh sealed the series 2-0 after the first match was washed out due to rain.

Chasing 274, the hosts were restricted to 270 for nine, courtesy of a four-wicket-haul from Mustafizur Rahman, and a clinical effort in the last over from Hasan Mahmud, who impressed with two scalps. 

Mustafizur, who returned with figures of four for 44, was adjudged the player-of-the-match, while Najmul Hossain Shanto took home the player-of-the-series award for his 152 runs in the two matches.

Ireland were cruising along at 223 for the loss of three, needing 51 runs off 54 balls to win, with set batters Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker at the crease.

But an inspired decision by Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal to bowl part-timer Shanto in the 42nd over gave Bangladesh an unlikely opening.

Tamim's decision to bring on Shanto to break the 79-run stand between Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker paid dividends as the off-spinner sent back dangerman Tector for a 48-ball 45. Tector, who scored a blistering 140 in the previous match, wanted to take on the part-timer but failed to clear the long-on boundary while trying to muscle a short-of-a-good-length delivery in the 42nd over. 

After that, it was the Fizz show as the left-arm pacer picked up three key wickets-- Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, and Lorcan Tucker-- in three overs to shift the scales in favour of the visitors. The left-arm pacer conceded just nine runs in those three overs that he bowled in the last 10.

Hasan managed to take care of the rest as he scalped two wickets and defended 10 runs in the last over to get Bangladesh across the line.  

Earlier, Bangladesh were bundled out for 274 after being put into bat first.

The visitors were headed for a score beyond 300 when Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz were batting but following the dismissal of the former in the 46th over after a 75-run stand with the latter, the Tigers were able to add just 12 runs for the loss of four wickets and had seven balls in hand.

Skipper Tamim Iqbal top-scored with an 82-ball 69, and Mushfiqur added a 54-ball 45.

Ireland's Mark Adair starred with four wickets, while Andy McBrine and George Dockrell scalped two wickets each.