Sports
T20 Bangladesh defeat Ireland by 22 runs in rain-curtailed T20
Dhaka, March 28: Hosts Bangladesh have kept their winning momentum going as they won the first T20 Match againsy Ireland by 22 runs in a rain-curtailed encounter at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Monday.
After being asked to bat first, Bangladesh put on 207 runs for the loss of five wickets. However, the heavens opened before their batters could play the entire quota of 20 overs with just four legal deliveries remaining.
In reply, Ireland could manage 81 runs in eight overs with half their side back in the pavillion.
For Bangladesh, openers Litton Das and Rony Talukdar set the platform with an inaugural stand of 91 runs in 7.1 overs. While Das was unlucky to miss out on his half century (47 off 23 balls), Talukdar, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, scored 67 runs off 38 balls. Both the batsmen hit three sixes each.
Bangladesh were able to surpass the 200-run mark with useful contibutions from Shamim Hossain (30) and skipper Shakib Al Hasan's unbeaten 20 runs.
Among the Irish bowlers, Craig Young picked up two wickets, while one each was taken by Harry Tector, Mark Adair and Graham Hume.
Ireland started quickly, putting on 32 runs inside three overs for the opening pair, but Taskin Ahmed's 4 wickets prevented any damage to the home side.
The other wicket was picked up by Hasan Mahmud.
Ireland and Bangladesh will play their second T20 match at the same venue on March 29.
