BANGLADESH HAVE WRAPPED up their Twenty20 series against Ireland with a one-run victory in the second game in Belfast.
The hosts went into the final over needing 10 runs to win but two consecutive wickets from Bangladesh off-spinner Mahmudullah ended Ireland’s hopes, although Trent Johnston did hit a six on the last ball to cut the margin to a solitary run.
Chasing 147 to win on Friday, Ireland got to 104-3 at the beginning of the 16th over, needing 43 runs off the remaining 30 deliveries.
But tight bowling from Mahmudullah (2-28 off four overs) restricted Ireland’s run rate and the hosts fell just short of victory giving Bangladesh a 2-0 series lead with one match left.
Mohammad Ashraful built Bangladesh’s innings after his fellow opener Tamim Iqbal was out for a duck off the bowling of Johnston in the fourth over.
Ashraful made a solid 38 of 46 balls, while Shakib Al Hasan (11 off nine) and Mushfiqur Rahim (14 off 8) added valuable runs.
But it was Nasir Hossain who was the star for Bangladesh as he came in with almost half the innings left to smash an unbeaten 50 from just 33 deliveries.Bangladesh finished their innings with a total of 146-6, with Max Sorensen the best Irish bowler thanks to figures of 2-34 off four overs.
The hosts started their run chase in positive fashion, with William Porterfield (14 off 12) and Paul Stirling (26 off 20) striking the ball well.
Ed Joyce and Gary Wilson took up the run chase and a 55-run stand from the middle-order pair put Ireland on track for a win.
But Ireland stalled when Wilson (37 off 27) was stumped by Rahim off the bowling of Elias Sunny with the final ball of the 15th over.
Mahmadullah bowled two of the last five overs for just 12 runs, including Johnston’s last-ball six with the contest virtually over before that delivery.
The 26-year-old dismissed Andrew Poynter (12 off 12) and then Joyce (41 off 44) in the final over to be on a hat-trick before Johnston’s big hit completed the action.
