LESS than a week after their historic one-day international victory over England, Bangladesh slumped to a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Ireland at Stormont.
William Porterfield led his side with distinction as he cracked 108, his fifth ODI century, to see the hosts past their target of 235 with five overs still to be bowled. For the Tigers it was a far cry from Saturday’s thrilling five-run win in Bristol, but they paid the price for an uncompetitive total.
They lost the toss and were quickly in trouble, danger man Tamim Iqbal falling to Boyd Rankin for five and Trent Johnston adding the scalps of Imrul Kayes (5) and Jahurul Islam (3).
Number three Junaid Siddique and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan were the men charged with rebuilding the innings from 28 for three. They did so well, taking the total to 135 before Shakib was dismissed by Paul Stirling for 50.
Junaid continued to keep the scoreboard ticking thereafter, bringing up three figures off his 121st delivery, nine of which he hit for four. He lasted just two more balls though, Kevin O’Brien claiming the wicket.
The rest of the Bangladesh order subsided with minimal fuss to a total of 234 for nine, Rankin taking two more wickets to finish with three for 43.
Porterfield and Stirling set about their target with relish, Syed Rasel shipping 14 off the second over the innings. Both men continued to pepper the boundary, with Porterfield smashing Shakib for six over long-on, as the score reached an imposing 69 for nought after 10 overs.
There were six more from the skipper in the 15th over, the loose Rubel Hossain the victim this time, and his fifty came from just 51 balls. Stirling celebrated his own landmark off the same number but fell for 52 charging Abdur Razzak.
Alex Cusack was next in and rightly sought to give Porterfield the strike. The opener responded by moving to his century in 105 balls, having hit a third six off Rubel in the 25th over.
Shakib eventually saw him off for 108 with Ireland 27 short and Niall O’Brien came and went for five to increase the tension. But there was plenty of time remaining and Cusack (45 n.o.) joined Kevin O’Brien (8 n.o.) at the close. (Eurosport)