Bangladesh wins by Liton’s fifty

Chasing a target of 171, Liton laid the foundation for the team with a 37-ball 57, which included three sixes and three fours, before being out lbw in the 15th over. Ireland had little chance to come back into the match with his departure, but Bangladesh’s lower order held their nerve to secure the win. This was Bangladesh’s highest ever home chase, surpassing the 165-run chase against Sri Lanka in Sylhet last year.

Earlier, opener Parvez Hossain Emon gave the Tigers a good start with a blistering 43 runs off 28 balls, including five fours and two sixes. After Tanjid Tamim was dismissed for just seven runs in the third over, Emon and Liton added 60 runs for the second wicket to consolidate the run chase.

After Emon was dismissed by Gareth Delaney in the 10th over, Saif Hasan came to the crease. His 22-run innings off 17 balls helped him put on a 52-run partnership with Liton. However, a crucial 17-ball 7-ball 17 (two fours and a six) in the final over brought Bangladesh very close to victory. Sheikh Mehedi hit a four with two balls to spare to secure victory.
Earlier, Ireland won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 170 for 6. Middle-order batsman Lorcan Tucker provided vital stability for the team. Tucker played a solid 41-run innings off 32 balls, which included four boundaries, before being run out off the last ball.

The Irish openers got off to a good start with a 57-run stand. Captain Paul Stirling made 29 off 14 balls, which included three fours and two sixes, before being caught at deep square leg in the fifth over. Tim Tector kept up the pressure and was heading for a big score, but Mehidy took three wickets after the power play to cause a dramatic collapse in the opposition batting.
Tim Tector, who had made 38 off 24 balls, was stumped off the first ball of the ninth over. Harry Tector (11) was bowled three balls later and in the next over Mehidy removed Ben Calitz (7 off 9 balls) to leave Ireland at 103 for 4.

However, Tucker, along with George Dockrell (18 off 21 balls), worked to repair the innings. The pair added a valuable 56 runs to help Ireland cross the 150-run target.
Sheikh Mehedi was the most successful of the Bangladesh bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 25 runs. Tanzim Hasan Shakib took 1 wicket for 17 runs in three overs, while Mohammad Saifuddin took 1 wicket but conceded 40 runs.