Bangladesh A team defeated their Irish counterpart by four wickets in the fourth game to clinch the five-match one-day series 3-0 at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday. The game was curtailed to a 20-over per side affair after both team’s players did not want to play three one-dayers in as many days. Batting first, top-order batsman Andy Balbirnie’s quickfire 83 off 51 balls took Ireland to a competitive 170-7 in teh stipulated overs.
Balbirnie struck seven fours and four sixes in his 51-ball innings. He added 65 runs for the fourth wicket with Sean Terry, who made a run-a-ball 28.
For hosts, pacer Imran Ali was the pick of the bowlers with 3-33.
In reply, Bangladesh strode to 172-6 in 19.4 overs through a quick third-wicket stand between skipper Nazmul Hossain and Al-Amin jnr.
They added 58 runs in just 5.2 overs, with Shanto’s 26-ball 47 including four boundaries and three sixes.
After Nazmul’s dismissal in the 10th over, Al-Amin took Bangladesh A close to the victory, before he was dismissed for 67 off 40 balls including eight fours and two sixes.
Pacer Barry McCarthy finished with 2-32 for Ireland.
The final match of the series will be held at the same venue today and it will be a 50-over match.
-With New Age input
