Tigers clinch T20I series with thumping 8-wicket win over Ireland

Bangladesh sealed the three-match T20I series in style, romping to a seven-wicket victory with 38 balls to spare in the decisive third match against Ireland at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium on Monday.

After bowling Ireland out for a modest 117, the Tigers chased down the target with ease to complete a dominant all-round performance and take the series 2-1.

Sent in to field after Paul Stirling won the toss, Bangladesh’s bowlers produced a clinical display to dismiss the visitors in 19.5 overs. Mustafizur Rahman and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain each claimed three wickets in a commanding performance that turned a promising Irish start into a swift collapse.

Ireland raced to 38 without loss inside four overs, with Stirling taking 13 runs off Mahedi Hasan’s opening over. However, Shoriful Islam broke the opening stand by bowling Tim Tector for 17, before Mustafizur removed Harry Tector for 5 in the final over of the powerplay.

Mahedi trapped Lorcan Tucker lbw for 1, and Rishad turned the game decisively. The leg-spinner deceived Curtis Campher with a sharp googly for 9, then dismissed Stirling – who had been dropped on 15 – for a battling 38 off 27 balls (five fours, one six). Rishad completed his trio by removing Gareth Delany for 10.

Mustafizur returned in the 18th over for a double-wicket burst that lifted him to third on the all-time T20I wicket-takers list, while Rishad and Mohammad Saifuddin polished off the tail. Mustafizur finished with 3-11, Rishad 3-21, Shoriful took two, and Mahedi and Saifuddin one each.

Opener Tanzid Hasan underlined Bangladesh’s dominance in the field by pouching five catches – equalling the T20I record and becoming the first player from a Full-Member nation to achieve the feat.

Chasing 118, Bangladesh lost Saif Hassan (19) and captain Liton Das (7) to reach 46-2, but Tanzid Hasan (55 off 36) and Parvez Hossain Emon (33 off 26) added a stylish 73 off just 50 balls for the third wicket to steer their side home without further alarm.

The comprehensive victory capped a resounding performance from the Tigers, who outplayed Ireland in every department to lift the series in front of a delighted Chattogram crowd.