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Ireland post tough target before Tigers


Published : 15 May 2019 09:10 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 10:42 PM

Hosts Ireland posted a big total of 292 for 8 in 50 overs against Bangladesh in the last league stage match of the ongoing Tri-Nation Series, at Castle Avenue, Dublin on Wednesday. Abu Jayed Rahi, the right-arm pacer of Bangladesh, bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in his 2nd ODI appearance conceding 58 runs in nine overs.

As of filing this report at 8.45pm, Bangladesh scored ---- for the loss of – wicket after --- overs. Tamim was batting on --- while Shakib was on the crease at ---. Earlier, Ireland won the toss and decided to bat first but they failed to make an impressive start as they lost the first wicket in just 23 runs, but they made comfortable the total of 292 runs, featuring 118 runs in the 3rd wicket stand by centurion Paul Stirling and captain William Porterfield.

James McCollum was the first man to get dismissed. The ball was outside off-stump, and McCollum went to drive it through the cover area but he failed to execute it properly. The ball kissed his bat before going to Liton Das who was ready to take a catch at the slip cordon. Rubel Hossain, who missed the first two matches, scalped the first wicket.

Andy Balbirnie, who struck a ton for Ireland in the previous game against West Indies, was removed by Abu Jayed for 20 this time. His dismissal was an unfortunate one as the TV replays showed the ball did not touch the bat before going the gloves of Mushfiqur Rahim. However, Ireland lost two wickets in 59 runs. Balbirnie was the maiden ODI wicket of Abu Jayed who failed to grab any wicket in his debut in Bangladesh’s previous game against West Indies.

In the third wicket stand, Stirling and Ireland captain William Porterfield added 118 runs on the board, which was Ireland’s biggest partnership against Bangladesh in any wicket. They surpassed the previous highest of 92 which was made by Porterfield and Jeremy Bray back in 2007 at Bridgetown in ICC Super Eight stage of the World Cup.

Both of Stirling and Porterfield were going to strike a ton, but Porterfield fell for 94 off 106 with seven fours and two sixes. He was hunted by Abu Jayed. After breaking the biggest stand of the innings, Abu Jayed took two wickets conceding six runs in his eighth over. First one was Kevin O'Brien. The ball was back of the length, and O’Brien tried to clear it for six but he skied the ball to Tamim Iqbal who was riding on the boundary. In the same over, Abu Jayed bagged the wicket of Paul Stirling as well.

Stirling went to play a big shot through the cow corner area but the power behind the shot was insufficient. Liton Das took a regulation catch at the boundary line. Stirling fell for 130 off 141 with eight fours and four sixes. It was his second biggest ODI knock. In the last over of the innings, Mohammad Saifuddin took the wickets of Mark Adair and George Dockrell, conceding only two runs. In the end, Ireland posted 292 for eight in 50 overs. The Tigers have already confirmed a place in the final against West Indies, which is slated for May 17 at the Village, Dublin.