Cricket:A relatively restrained knock of 74 from Tamim Iqbal saw Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over hosts Ireland to square their short one-day international series 1-1 at Stormont.
Having lost to the Irish yesterday, the pressure was on Mashrafe Mortaza’s side and they responded with a clinical display.
Shafiul Islam, restored to the XI in place of the expensive Syed Rasel, did the brunt of the damage with figures of four for 59 as Ireland made 189 for nine in the 46 overs allowed after a rain delay.
Tamim, who has burned brightly but too briefly at the crease of late, this time played a more responsible hand, hanging around for 91 balls to take the tourists within 17 runs of victory.
Ireland were 28 for three in the 10th over after Shafiul accounted for Paul Stirling (six) and Alex Cusack (nought), while Mortaza kicked things off with the key wicket of opposite number William Porterfield (six).
Niall O’Brien hit a counter-attacking 27 before being pinned lbw by Abdur Razzak before brother Kevin was stumped for 14 off Shakib Al Hasan. Ireland’s lower middle order fought back well to raise the total to a respectable level, Andrew White (24) and John Mooney (28) ably supporting top scorer Gary Wilson, who made 60 before becoming Shakib’s second victim.
Shafiul then returned to the side to take his third and fourth wickets and close out the innings strongly.
Veteran seamer Trent Johnston gave the home fans some hope when he sent Imrul Kayes back for five, with Tamim and Junaid Siddique easing the score out to 41 before the latter fell to Kevin O’Brien.
Tamim continued to marshall the Tigers’ innings, adding 84 alongside Jahurul Islam, who eventually became third man out when White struck. The dashing opener hit the only six of the innings of Stirling as he looked to see Bangladesh over the line but he fell just before the end, George Dockrell the bowler.
Shakib made 33no and Mushfiqur Rahim, who finished 13no, finished the job with four off Dockrell.
Bangladesh’s tour continues with an ODI against Scotland in Glasgow on Monday.