Cricinfo
After a disappointing show in the first game, Bangladesh’s bowlers hit back with a disciplined performance to restrict Ireland to 189 and set up a six-wicket win to draw the series 1-1 at Stormont on Friday. Bangladesh held the upper hand from the very beginning, nipping out early wickets in overcast conditions and preventing Ireland from recovering to a challenging score. Tamim Iqbal led the chase with a half-century and his presence ensured a safe passage to the target.
Morning rain forced the game to be reduced to 46 overs, but surprisingly, Ireland opted to bat. The captain William Porterfield was soon made to regret that as he departed in the fifth over, slashing Mashrafe Mortaza to Jahurul Islam at backward point. Shafiul Islam struck the next over when he sent back the other opener, Paul Stirling, for 6 edging a wide delivery.
A flurry of boundaries by Niall O’Brien off Shafiul calmed the nerves for the hosts but the excitement was shortlived as Alex Cusack, struggling at the crease, nicked Shafiul to Mushfiqur. Ireland couldn’t break free, with the spinners bowling in tandem, and they were further dented when the fluent Niall was trapped lbw by Abdur Razzak.
At 62 for 5, Ireland were desperate for a big partnership and that’s when Gary Wilson showed some initiative. He chipped down the track to Razzak and launched it to long-on, breaking a boundary drought that lasted 12 overs. He and Andrew White added 44 for the fifth wicket before White was trapped lbw by the third member of the left-arm spin trio, Faisal Hossain.
John Mooney and Wilson cranked up the pace with some innovative boundaries against the spinners. Mooney also attacked Shafiul, hitting two fours and a straight six – the only one of the innings – in one over. Wilson had earlier reached his fifty, with a single to long-off, but he fell soon after, caught at short third man. His 60 came off 64 balls and included four boundaries.
A late double-strike by Shafiul prevented Ireland from scoring over 200 and he finished with 4 for 59 to set up a chase which was well within Bangladesh’s reach. He went on to pick up the Man-of-the-Match award.
Ireland had some success early on when Trent Johnston had Imrul Kayes edging to second slip in the sixth over. Tamim dumped Stirling for a big hit down the ground and his partner Junaid Siddique attempted another big hit but couldn’t clear Johnston at deep midwicket, off Kevin O’Brien. The bowling change, in the 11th over, halted a 31-run stand.
Jahurul Islam then joined Tamim as the pair scripted the most productive stand of the match, one that put the visitors firmly on course. Tamim brought up his fifty with a glance for four to third man off Alex Cusack. Though the boundaries were occasional, the pair kept rotating the strike, not playing out any maidens. Jahurul Islam moved along patiently to 34, but perished while trying to pull Andrew White, top edging to short third man. The pair had added 84 for the third wicket.
Bangladesh now head to Scotland to play two one-off ODIs against Scotland and Netherlands in Glasgow.
SCORES IN BRIEF
IRELAND: 189 for 9 (Wilson 60, N O’Brien27, White 24, Mooney 28; Shafiul 4-55, Shakib 2-21)
BANGLADESH: 191 for 4 in 37.3 overs (Tamim 74, Junaed 13, Jahurul 34, Shakib 33 not out, Mushfiqur 13 not out)
Result: Bangladesh won by 6 wickets.
Man-of-the-match: Shafiul Islam.
Courtesy of Cricinfo
