Match abandoned due to rain

The rain-curtailed qualifying match of ICC WT20 2016 between Bangladesh and Ireland at Dharamsala was washed out, leaving Tigers top of their group ahead of Oman on net run-rate.

Earlier, Bangladesh lost the important wicket of Tamim in the last ball of the 8th over, just before rain stopped play at Dharamsala.

Tamim was sent back to the dressing room by Dockrell not before the opener smashed the Irish bowlers all around the park during his breezy knock of 47. He faced 26 balls, struck three fours and four sixes to the delight of his teammates and fans alike.

Even after the fall of Soumya, the momentum was kept by Tamim and Sabbir, and the duo scored 33 runs in 3.2 overs for the 2nd wicket.

Ireland managed to get their first breakthrough in the fifth over when Soumya Sarkar threw away his wicket recklessly. Soumya tried two reverse sweeps, missed them both, went down the track the next ball and was stumped by miles.

Soumya was dropped in the first over, similar to the match against Netherlands. He scored 20 runs from 13 balls with three fours to his name.

The opening stand for Tigers produced 61 runs in only 4.4 overs.

Tamim Iqbal gave Bangladesh a fantastic start with a flurry of boundaries as the Irish opening bowlers erred in their line and length.

The Southpaw from Chittagong used his feet to unsettle the bowlers, and manage to hit some lovely shots on the off. He was also busy at the crease and rotated the strike as much as possible.

Tamim Innings:

Ireland captain William Porterfield won the toss and decided to field first given the conditions at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala under the lights against Bangladesh led Mashrafe Mortaza by in the 12-over a side qualifying match of ICC WT20 2016.

With Mustafizur not fully fit, Taskin and Sunny under the scanner for their bowling action, Shakib and Mushfiq woefully out of form, Soumya not firing on all cylinders and unreasonably poor ground fielding, Bangladesh face an uphill task in this rain-curtailed qualifying match today.

The format of the qualifying stages of the World T20 means that Ireland have one step out of the door already, following their shock two-wicket defeat to Oman on Wednesday.

But given how Bangladesh too were rattled by the Netherlands despite the eight-run win, Ireland should be positive about making a comeback.

And if that is not enough, Ireland will be playing against a team that has two of its bowlers' actions being questioned by the ICC. The coach Chandika Hathurusingha hit back by saying he also questions the ICC on the matter, but the news will only make Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny look over their shoulder when they bowl on Friday.

Ireland's other advantage at this point is the fact that they have experienced playing in the late evening in Dharamsala and how dew becomes a factor.

The manner in which the ball kept slipping out of Max Sorensen's grip in that fateful final over was enough suggestion that the team defending a total must have more than enough on the board.

Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Mohammad Mithun, Mashrafe Mortaza (Captain), Abu Hider, Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain

Ireland

WTS Porterfield(Captain), PR Stirling, GC Wilson, NJ O'Brien (Wicketkeeper), KJ O'Brien, AD Poynter, AR McBrine, MC Sorensen, TJ Murtagh, WB Rankin and GH Dockrell

Rain may play the spoilsport in the end during the Bangladesh-Ireland qualifying match at Dharamsala's HPCA stadium. Photo: BCB