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Bangladesh-Ireland ODI series

Shakib, Hridoy steer Tigers to a massive win


Published : 19 Mar 2023 02:01 AM

Shakib Al Hassan shined with bat and ball and Towhid Hridoy sparkled at his debut, as Bangladesh made a winning start in their ODI series against touring Ireland.

Held at the Sylhet Stadium on Saturday, Bangladesh being sent into bat first piled up a mammoth total of 338 runs for eight wickets to set Ireland a challenging target to chase in 46.4 overs and booked them just on 155 for all in 30.5 overs to win the match.

It was the highest total and then biggest margin win for Tigers in the ODI when Shakib Al Hassan and Towhid Hridoy scored 93 and 92 runs respectively.      

Initially it looked the track was aiding the bowlers with the opening bowling partners trying to keep their line and length giving trouble to the batters Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das.  

Captain Tamim Iqbal’s prediction with the character of the pitch was ‘first 10 overs the wicket would be challenging and then it will be a good wicket.’ Tamim himself getting out earlier and rest of the batters batted comfortably after 10 overs and it justified his preicton.

However, Bangladesh lost the openers by 9.3 overs  with Tamim getting out inside two and a half over (2.3 overs) when Litton Das got out on 9.3 vers. Tamim trying to drive on a out swinger off Mark Adair just managed to get a snick and Stirling caught it  at first slip for three runs with 15 runs were on the board.

Litton Das,who regained his form after an interval with scoring 73 runs in the third T20 against England, was playing fluently. But the hard hitter batter attempting to make a back-foot drive on a pacer Curtis Campher’s third ball of his first over, pushed too early, as the ball became low and kissing the edge of the bat went Stirling for an easy catch, Bangladesh was reduced to 49 for two by 9.3 overs and Litton scored 31off 26 balls with two fours and a six.           

Then inform batter Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who scored 34 runs with Littong Das in the second wicket partnership, was also looked confidently but misjudged a full

length delivery from right arm off break bowler Andy McBrine trying to drive it

through took a front foot step but it was too late, as the ball hit the wicket.

Bangladesh after reducing to three for 81 by 16.3 overs, had a handsome middle

wicket partnership with Shakib and Hridoy played 135 runs off 120

balls to bring the team to a formidable position with 216 for four.

Shakib, who has been on his pick, was just seven runs short off having his 10th ODI century when the prolific all-rounder cracked 93 runs featuring with only nine fours.

Shakib added another feather to his wings when one of the leading all-rounders of

the world reached another landmark scoring 7000 runs and 300 wickets.

Shakib earned the feat during the 20th over of Bangladesh innings taking a single off Curtis Campher on his way to 93 runs innings.  

Meanwhile, the Tigers’ T20 captain, by virtue of earning the feat became the third cricketer in ODIs to reach 7000 runs and 300 wickets when he sensation of Bangladesh cricket joined Sanath Jayasuriya and Shahid Afridi in the list right after reaching on 24.  

Shakib also the the second-highest run-scorer in the ODI format for Bangladesh behind Tamim Iqbal, who scored 8146 runs.

Shakib however, earlier of this month reached 300 wickets landmark with his four-wicket haul against England after taking the wicket of Rehan Ahmed in the third ODI at Jahur Ahmed Stadium, Chattogram. It made him the third left-arm spinner, after Jayasuriya and Daniel Vettori to reach the milestone. 

Shakib tried to dig out with an open face off a Graham Hume yorker outside the off-stumps but it flicked the bottom of the bat before to go to the keeper.  

After the departure of Shakib, débutante Towhid Hridoy and the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim did not look back to bring the innings to nearer 300 with quick fire from both ends.

At fifth wicket stands Mushfique and Hridoy scored 80 runs from 8.1 balls with the former played a rapid 44 off 26 balls with hammering three fours and as many fours.

Hridoy, who put his steps in the international circuit with making his T20 debut against England, justified the selectors choice. But the young batters was unfortunate failing to have century at the debut when he made 92 runs off85 balls with eight fours and two sixes before being bowled by Hume, who struck in a span of two balls on 46th over to get out Mushfique and Hridoy.

Finally Bangladesh finished their innings on 338 for eight in 50 overs to set a challenging target to chase for Ireland.

Replying to a massive total, apart from the openers none of the Irish batters could fight with keeping their head high against the fierce bowling attack of Bangladesh.

Stephen Doheny and Paul Stirling  scored an impressive 60 in 11.2 overs  the openings stand before Shakib making the first breakthrough.

Stephen Doheny, who looked to be danger after scoring 34 runs, Shakib got him out when the batter tried to poke a ball outside off stumps skidded through and taken the edge into the keeper's gloves on 60 when Paul Stirling followed him quickly giving catch to Mushfique off Ebadot for 22 with Ireland’s total 62.

Losing two wickets in a span of two runs, rest of the batters were just surrendered to finish their innings on 155 in 30.5 overs, as they lost the wickets in a regular interval.

But only George Dockrel made it late the celebration of the Tigers  scoring 45 runs off 47 balls after Ireland were eight down for 118 runs, he single-handedly bring the visitors to a respectable total.    

Shakib (one) Ebadot (4 wks), Taskin (2 wkts), Nasum (3wkts) shared 10 wickets among them to bundle out Ireland for 155 runs and grabbed a massive 183 runs win.