Litton leads Bangladesh to record home chase in 2nd Ireland T20I
Skipper Litton Das struck his 16th T20I half-century to steer Bangladesh to a four-wicket win over Ireland in the second T20I in Chattogram on Saturday, levelling the three-match series 1-1, with the series-decider to be played on Tuesday at the same venue.
Chasing 171, Litton anchored the innings with a 37-ball 57, laced with three sixes and as many fours, before falling lbw in the 15th over. His dismissal briefly opened a window for Ireland, but Bangladesh's lower order held their nerve to complete what became their highest successful run chase at home, surpassing the 165 they chased against Sri Lanka in Sylhet last year.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Earlier, opener Parvez Emon gave the Tigers early momentum with a brisk 28-ball 43 studded with five fours and two sixes. After Tanzid Tamim departed cheaply for seven in the third over, Emon and Litton added 60 for the second wicket to consolidate the chase.
Emon's dismissal to Gareth Delany in the 10th over brought Saif Hassan to the crease, and his 22 off 17 balls helped forge a 52-run stand with Litton. The finishing touches, however, came from a vital seven-ball 17 -- featuring two fours and a six -- that pushed Bangladesh decisively ahead. Shak Mahedi hit a four to seal the victory with two balls to spare.
Earlier, Ireland posted 170 for six after opting to bat, with middle-order batter Lorcan Tucker providing crucial stability. Tucker made a steady 32-ball 41, striking four boundaries and batting till the final ball before being run out.
Ireland's openers set the tone with a 57-run stand. Skipper Paul Stirling hammered 29 off 14 balls, including three fours and two sixes, before falling at deep square leg in the fifth over. Tim Tector kept the pressure on and looked set for a bigger score, but Mahedi sparked a dramatic collapse with a triple strike after the Powerplay.
Tector was stumped for a 24-ball 38 off the first ball of the ninth over, Harry Tector was bowled three balls later for 11, and Mahedi removed Ben Calitz (7 off 9) in his next over, reducing Ireland to 103 for 4.
Tucker, however, steadied the innings alongside George Dockrell (18 off 21), with the pair adding 56 valuable runs to take Ireland past 150.
Mahedi finished as Bangladesh's most effective bowler, returning figures of 3 for 25. Tanzim Hasan Sakib chipped in with 1 for 17 from three overs, while Mohammad Saifuddin picked up one wicket but conceded 40.
Tucker helps Ireland post 170-6
Middle-order batter Lorcan Tucker anchored Ireland's innings with a steady 32-ball 41 after a flying start from the openers, guiding his side to 170 for 5 in the second T20I of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Saturday.
Coming in to bat during the ninth over, Tucker struck four boundaries and held the innings together, batting till the final ball before being run out.
Ireland's openers had laid a strong platform. Skipper Paul Stirling and Tim Tector put on 57 runs for the first wicket before Stirling, who smashed 29 off 14 balls with three fours and two sixes, was caught at deep square leg in the fifth over. Tector continued the early charge and looked poised for a bigger score, but Shak Mahedi Hasan halted the momentum with a triple strike after the Powerplay, just as Ireland had raced to 88 for 1 after eight overs.
Tector, set for further fireworks, was stumped off the first ball of the ninth over for a 24-ball 38 featuring four boundaries and two sixes. Three balls later, Mahedi beat Harry Tector with sharp turn to bowl him for a run-a-ball 11. In his next over, Mahedi removed Ben Calitz (seven off nine) to reduce Ireland to 103 for 4 after 11 overs.
Tucker then steadied the innings, adding 56 crucial runs with George Dockrell (18 off 21) to push the total past 150.
Mahedi finished as Bangladesh's standout bowler with figures of 3 for 25. Tanzim Sakib chipped in with one wicket for 17 runs from three overs, while Mohammad Saifuddin proved expensive, conceding 40 for his one wicket.
Mahedi takes three wickets after Powerplay to get Tigers back into the contest
Off-spinner Shak Mahedi struck thrice to bring Bangladesh back into the contest after Ireland had gotten off to a flying start in the second T20I between the sides in Chattogram on Saturday.
Ireland had raced off to 88-1 after eight overs before Mahedi struck twice in the ninth over to pull things back for the Tigers.
Opener Tim Tector, who looked set for more fireworks, got stumped in the first delivery after a 24-ball 38 which also featured fours boundaries and two maximums. Three ball later, Mahedi got it to spin away off the wicket and castled Harry Tector who scored a run-a-ball 11. In his next over, Mahedi managed to get rid off Ben Calitz (seven off nine balls) to reduce the visitors to 103-4 after 11 overs.
Tigers under the cosh as Ireland off to flying start in Powerplay
It was a difficult start to the game for Bangladesh as their bowlers struggled to keep a lid on proceedings in the second T20I against Ireland ion Chattogram on Saturday.
Despite losing skipper and opener Paul Stirling (29 off 14 balls) in the fifth over, Ireland got off to a flying start, finishing the Powerplay at 75-1.
Stirling smashed three fours and two sixes in his short stay at the crease before he was caught at dee square leg. His dismissal brought an end to a 57-run opening stand. His partner, Tim Tector, meanwhile, kept his foot on the gas, racing off to 34 off 19 balls, thanks to two sixes and four fours at the end of the first six overs. Harry Tector joined Tim in the middel and was unbeaten on a run-a-ball three.
Bangladesh field first against Ireland again with three changes
Bangladesh brought three changes for the second T20I against Ireland in the second T20I in Chattogram on Saturday. The Tigers were asked to bowl first by the Ireland skipper Paul Stirling, who won the toss.
Bangladesh had lost the opening match of the three-match series by 39 runs.
Off-spinner Sheikh Mahedi, all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin and wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan are the three players coming in, replacing leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam and wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik.
Ireland have one enforced change, with injured Curtis Campher making way for Ben Calitz.
Bangladesh: 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain, 3 Saif Hassan, 4 Litton Das (capt, wk), 5 Tawhid Hridoy, 6 Nurul Hasan, 7 Tanzim Hasan, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Nasum Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Mohammad Saifuddin
Ireland: 1 Paul Stirling (capt), 2 Tim Tector, 3 Harry Tector, 4 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 5 Ben Calitz, 6 George Dockrell, 7 Gareth Delany, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Matthew Humphreys, 11 Josh Little
Comments