Rishad, Mustafizur demolish Ireland to secure series
Ireland were bundled out for just 117 as Bangladesh chased down the target with ease inside 14 overs
Bangladesh put in a commanding performance with both bat and ball to demolish Ireland in the final T20I and secure the series 2-1. Trailing in the series after losing the opening game, Bangladesh staged a commendable comeback which was highlighted in their dominant win on Tuesday (December 2) as their bowlers first bundled out Ireland for just 117 before their batters got the job done inside 14 overs in the chase.
Paul Stirling got Ireland off to a great start after opting to bat first as he found the boundary thrice in the opening over. The exciting Tim Tector then took on Shoriful Islam and went 4,4,6 before an off cutter from the bowler saw his stumps get rearranged. Despite the wicket, Ireland raced to 50/1 in five overs. However, Bangladesh clawed back into the contest from that point with regular strikes to ensure there was no recovery in sight for Ireland.
Once Rishad rattled Curtis Campher's stumps with a googly at the halfway point, the writing was on the wall for Ireland as they slipped from 50/1 to 66/4. Rishad also got rid of the set batter Stirling before rounding off his spell with a third scalp. Mustafizur Rahman, who had castled Harry Tector earlier, came back at the death to hurt Ireland further with a double strike as he too finished with a three-wicket haul.
Needing 118, Bangladesh had a decent powerplay despite losing Saif Hassan and Litton Das. Saif had hit a couple of boundaries and a six before his departure and Tanzid Hasan looked in good touch as well. Tanzid carried forward the chase alongside Parvez Hossain as Bangladesh showed no urgency and batted in clinical fashion.
At the halfway point, with victory in sight, Tanzid opened up and smacked Delany for a couple of sixes before hammering Craig Young for another big one to go past fifty and eventually carry Bangladesh past the finish line.
