Buoyant Tigers out to make it 2-0 against Ireland 

Publish: 8:15 PM, March 22, 2023 | Update: 8:15 PM, March 22, 2023

Bangladesh wants to keep up their aggressive brand of cricket as they take on visiting Ireland in the third and series deciding one-day International at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium tomorrow (Thursday).

The match starts at 2.30 PM and will be aired live on T Sports Channel.

Bangladesh now lead the series 1-0 as the second ODI was washed out after they put up their ODI highest 349-6, thanks to Mushfiqur Rahim’s blistering 60 ball-100 not out. Having done so, Mushfiqur eclipsed Shakib Al Hasan to hit the fastest ODI ton by a Bangladeshi batter.

Mushfiqur’s batting however epitomized to how Bangladesh want to play the ODI cricket from now on as they are trying to build a team for the upcoming World Cup in India.

Bangladesh piled up 338-8 in the first ODI and won the game by 183 runs for their largest ever victory. 

The visitors in fact were no match for Bangladesh in the first two matches. Luckily they are still in the series thanks to the wash out of the second game.

But the shrewd way Bangladesh are playing cricket in this series, it is unlikely that Ireland could turn the table and avoid the series defeat.

The two teams so far played 12 matches with Bangladesh winning eight and losing two. The rest of the two matches were washed out.

“We are taking that into account, looking at tomorrow, we have to come up with one or two creative ways to break partnerships and get some quality players in the opposition under pressure,” Ireland coach Heinrich Malan said as they want to thwart Bangladesh.

“It was a nice surface. It wasn’t as affected as we thought it would be. It is something that we identified and something we will rectify tomorrow,” the Ireland coach said. 

Bangladesh excluded Afif Hossain and Shoriful Islam from the third ODI but there is chance they tinker with the team in a bid to give players like Rony Talukdar to play match. Also Mehidy Hasan Miraz who sustained an eye injury during a football session ahead of the first ODI could be in the mix as he recovered from the injury.

Although the hosts have a world class spin attack, it was just not needed to get into act as the pacers, who showed the prowess of late more than the spinners at home condition was enough to derail Irish batters. It was though believed that Ireland could deal with Bangladesh pacers with ease. But in practical world, they found them in wanting. 

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Rony Talukdar.

Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (C), Harry Tector, Gareth Delany, Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, Matthew Humphreys, Lorcan Tucker, Stephen Doheny, Mark Adair, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Benjamin White, Andy McBrine, Joshua Little