Bangladesh pips Ireland by 27 runs
Dhaka, February 25: Bangladesh restricted Ireland to 178 all out in 45 overs with seam bowler Shafiul Islam doing the hero's turn for the home side with 4 wickets for 21 runs off 8 overs in a 'do or die' Group B match at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in the ICC Cricket World Cup. Ireland, chasing a target of 206 to win, kept losing wickets but always looked in with a chance as long as Kevin O'Brien, the younger of the O'Brien brothers, was at the crease.
Ireland set off on their chase with Paul Stirling making 9 of 23 runs in the opening stand before being stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim off captain Shakib Al-Hasan. Opening partner, captain William Porterfield followed soon for 20, leaving Ireland on 36 for 2. Ed Joyce (16) and Andrew White (10) added 39 for the fourth wicket.
It was when the O'Brien brothers Niall and Kevin were together for the sixth wicket that the Irish looked capable of overhauling the Tigers. Niall scored 38 off 52 balls and Kevin blasted 37 off 40 balls. Even when Kevin O'Brien became the sixth wicket to fall, the first of Shafiul Islam's victims, at 151 in the 37th over, the Irish were in with a shout as Andre Botha was at the crease. John Mooney came and went, without troubling the scorers, bowled by Naeem Islam. When Andre Botha played around a Shafiul inswinger for 22, the Tigers could see the light at the end of a very doubtful tunnel!
The Bangladesh seamer duly cleaned up veteran Trent Johnson and Boyd Rankin with five overs still left in the innings for his side to keep their hopes of a Quarter Final berth alive. Earlier, Ireland gave themselves a good chance to beat Bangladesh, restricting them to 205. Bangladesh, after electing to bat, were at one point struggling at 86 for four. Tamim Iqbal (44) played a cameo while Mushfiqur Rahim (36) and Raqibul Hasan (38) were involved in a steady fifth-wicket partnership of 61 runs to pull the team through choppy waters. Left-arm spinner George Dockwell was impressive in his spell, taking two wickets and giving away 23 in his quota of overs.
The home team, who lost their first match to India, were off to a great start with openers Tamim and Imrul Kayes (12) smashing 53 in 6.3overs. But the Irish medium pacers Trent Johnston (2/40) and Andre Botha (3/32) proved more than a handful on a slow wicket. They had Bangladesh on the mat in the next 10 overs. Rahim and Hasan did the repair job as they managed a respectable total. Barring an odd partnership, Bangladesh kept on losing wickets and could only muster 32 runs in the last 10 overs. Ireland upset Pakistan and also beat Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup.
News Posted: 25 February, 2011
|
