BANGLADESH secured a thrilling last-ball victory over Ireland to complete a 3-0 whitewash in the Twenty20 series between the sides at Stormont.
Batting first, Ireland set a target of 140-8, with William Porterfield scoring 28 and Trent Johnston 24. Tamim Iqbal (39) and Mohammad Ashraful (24) put on an opening partnership of 62 to provide the platform for Bangladesh’s score of 141-8.
Paul Stirling took 3-21 for Ireland and fellow spinner George Dockrell 2-33.
Mashrafe Mortaza was the hero for Bangladesh as he took 4-19 and then smashed 30 with the bat as his side prevailed by two wickets.
Ireland squandered a strong start to make only 140 after winning the toss in Belfast.
Eleven came from Ireland’s first over but Stirling could only make 17 and Porterfield, having hit a six into the media tent, tried to repeat the stroke two overs later but holed out off Mortaza for 28.
Niall O’Brien followed for 22, brother Kevin was dismissed for a duck and the wicket of Andrew Poynter (one) gave Mortaza figures of four for eight at that stage and left Ireland 84 for five.
John Mooney made 12 and Gary Wilson and Trent Johnston both cleared the ropes before the former fell for 22, Johnston remaining on 24 not out to see his side to 140 for eight.
Bangladesh openers Iqbal and Ashraful put on 62 in 9.2 overs before the latter fell for 24.
But Iqbal swiftly followed, then a flurry of wickets, as Stirling took three for 21 and Ziaur Rehman was run-out without facing, left the Tigers 87 for six.
It was Mortaza to the rescue once again as he hit 30 from only 13 balls before perishing to Kevin O’Brien, who had fumbled the last of the all-rounder’s four sixes over the rope.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s dismissal in the last over set up a tense finish but Elias Sunny saw Bangladesh home. (BBC Sport)