Fizz, Shanto snatch victory as Tigers prevail
Bangladesh were the first international side to visit England this summer and they were tested in two edge-of-the-seat games against Ireland at Chelmsford but they have come through with more strength and adventure, securing a 2-0 sweep with a five-run margin win with Mustafizur Rahman turning the screws on the Irish side with a four-for. When it mattered, the younger stars shone through.
"If I tell you we had the belief we'd win, I'd be lying. But cricket is a funny game, wickets fall and scoreboard pressure is bad to have. When the Fizz got two wickets, we thought we had a chance," skipper Tamim Iqbal conceded at post-match ceremony and that is how close it was.
It came down to death overs in the end but before that, Ireland looked like they were fully in control in chase of Bangladesh's 274. Paul Stirling took captain Andrew Balbirnie along in slowly setting up the platform for a surge at some point. The 109-run third-wicket stand got Ireland where they needed to be after Mustafizur had got the first breakthrough with the wicket of Stephen Doheny.
Ebadot Hossain came up with the much-needed wicket of Balbirnie, out for 53 off 78, holed out at deep mid-wicket. Mehedi Miraz had been pegging away and his effort bore fruit, removing Stirling after 60.
Yet, with Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker at the crease, Ireland were flowing. Debutant Mrittunjoy Chowdhury had bowled without luck and in a dreadful 37th over, Ireland took him for 21 runs which changed the complexion of the game. 80 needed off 78 deliveries, Miraz finished his spell and skipper Tamim Iqbal had to turn to Najmul Hossain Shanto's part-time off-spin and the gamble paid off. Tector miscued a pull slightly which Liton Das at long on did well to hold on to to break the 65-ball 79-run stand.
Yet, needing 49 from eight overs, the game was firmly in Ireland's hand until Mustafizur worked his magic in the very next over. Curtis Campher skied one for a dolly at mid-off before Mustafizur struck again as George Dockrell bludgeoned one to substitute Yasir Ali. Tucker battled away with a fifty before the left-armer squeezed one under his lap shot to disturb the stumps.
Mark Adair raged in the penultimate over as Mrittunjoy was put under the cosh but Hasan Mahmud prevailed in the final over, picking up two wickets and giving away only four runs while Ireland needed 10 runs for victory.
Tamim tugged along Mustafizur, who bagged player-of-the-match, to the ceremony and there Fizz nonchalantly put it that he 'was thinking of bagging five wickets before the match.' One short maybe but it was a statement performance from the master bowler after much criticism. Wicket of Tucker gave Shanto his first international scalp and bagged the player-of-the-series for his performances in the three games.
Earlier, Bangladesh batting turned out to be a little disappointing despite Tamim's return to runs with a fifty after nine innings. Partnerships grew, first with Shanto, then Liton of 44 and 70 respectively with Tamim at the wicket. Shanto and Liton got good starts but fell short of expectations. When Tamim fell after an 82-ball 69, Mushfiqur Rahim and Miraz kept things ticking. When the time for acceleration came, Mushfiqur fell to McBrine after a 54-ball 45. The last five Bangladesh wickets fell for 14 runs which should give food for thought but in the end, the young side prevailed in another confidence-boosting win.