Iqbal leads Bangladesh home

22 March 2008

Tamim Iqbal © Getty Images

Bangladesh completed a comprehensive series win over Ireland, with a 79-run victory in the third and final one-day international in Mirpur.

The result means the hosts win the series 3-0, making full amends for their defeat by the Irish in last year’s World Cup.

Opener Tamim Iqbal was the architect of the victory, hammering 129 from 137 balls to record the second-highest ODI score by a Bangladesh batsman.

Tamim shared a 109-run opening stand with Shahriar Nafees (54) before Australian-born seamer Alex Cusack took two wickets in three deliveries, removing Shahriar and Aftab Ahmed, who fell for a duck.

Number seven Mahmudullah kept the innings on track with an unbeaten 49, scored at better than a run a ball, after the middle order had failed.

Skipper Mohammad Ashraful made just 22 before edging behind to Kevin O’Brien (2-58), while Shakib Al Hasan and Raqibul Hasan both fell short of double figures.

Cusack was Ireland’s most economical bowler, claiming 2-30 from his eight overs, while Dave Langford-Smith (3-53) was expensive but threatening.

William Porterfield and Reinhardt Strydom dealt with the new ball to reach 34 without loss but neither man made a significant score.

Porterfield was run out for 18 and Strydom was trapped in front by Mahmudullah for 37 having hit a four and a six.

Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien battled hard for his side in making 70 in 74 balls at number four but he found little assistance, with no other batsman breaking 20 as the knock stuttered to 214 all out.

There were a total of four run-outs in a chaotic Irish innings but Mashrafe Mortaza showed fine control to return one for 32 off nine overs.