ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh held their nerve in a rain-affected first Twenty20 international to beat Ireland by 22 runs in Chittagong on Monday.
Taskin Ahmed was the hero for Bangladesh, claiming three wickets in one over to halt Ireland’s flying start and finish with career-best figures of 4-16 in T20Is.
Bangladesh had posted 206-5 in 19.2 overs before rain interrupted their innings and forced match officials to set Ireland a revised target of 104 runs in eight overs.
Despite a top score of 21 not out from Gareth Delany, Ireland fell short on 81-5.
Earlier, Rony Talukdar’s career-best knock of 67 from 38 balls had powered Bangladesh after stand-in Ireland skipper Paul Stirling had won the toss and elected to bowl.
Rony put on a 91-run opening stand with Liton Das, who made 47 off 23 balls.
Bangladesh batting
Ireland had hoped to put the brakes on Bangladesh’s scoring spree, but Shamim Hossain’s 20-ball 30 and Shakib Al Hasan’s unbeaten 20 off 13 balls helped Bangladesh race past the 200-run mark before rain ended the innings.
The win gave Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, with the second match scheduled for Wednesday at the same ground.
Bangladesh had previously won the three-match ODI series 2-0 and will face Ireland in a one-off Test in early April.
