Ireland stun Bangladesh in Belfast ODI
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Junaid-Siddique-c1749, which looked competitive, but an opening partnership of 118 in 19 overs between William Porterfield and Paul Stirling ensured that it was not.
Ireland looked in total control throughout the game, picking up early wickets and stifling the scoring rate and then had two crucial partnerships during the chase.
The Irish innings started with a maiden, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mashrafe-Mortaza-c1917 bowling to Porterfield. But Stirling assumed control in the next over and scored three boundaries off Syed Rasel. The innings was up and running. The pair scored at seven runs an over in the first power play and had a boundary in almost every over.
Spin was introduced in the tenth over in the form of Shakib Al http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990 and he was welcomed with a boundary and a six by Porterfield. It was Porterfield who reached his half century first, getting there in 51 deliveries. Stirling followed him getting to his, in the same number of balls.
The breakthrough came in the 20th over for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 when Stirling was bowled by Abdur Razzak, after going down the wicket and making no contact with the ball. Any Bangladeshi hopes of getting into the game were thwarted by yet another Irish partnership, this time between Porterfield and Alex Cusack. Cusack was the perfect foil for Porterfield, who was able to score the runs at ease.
Porterfield reached his century in 105 balls and had scored seven boundaries and three sixes by then. When he fell off the last ball of the 38th over, the Ireland score stood at 208/2. It was a responsible innings from Porterfield; he started slowly but soon turned aggressive, especially against the spinners and the slower bowlers. Ireland reached home in the 45th over and Cusack was unbeaten on 45 and had Kevin O’ Brien for company.
Earlier in the day, Ireland had won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat. It was a bad start for Bangladesh and they lost both the openers by the end of the third over, with Trent Johnston and Boyd Rankin getting a wicket each. Siddique came in at number four and he looked bright right from the start. He was joined by Shakib in the sixth over and the pair began the rebuilding process. When Shakib departed in the 31st over, they had put on 107 for the fourth wicket in 25 overs.
Once Shakib was out, Siddique started attacking but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. The pressure was telling and Siddique finally fell, top edging a pull shot, but only after making a well deserved and a maiden ODI century. A late flourish from Mortaza, 15 from 13, helped Bangladesh to a respectable score. Lack of partnerships was the biggest problem for Bangladesh and they also had only one hit over the fence, the six coming in the 47th over. Rankin and Johnston were the pick of the bowlers for Ireland and the new ball pair had five wickets among them. Porterfield was the man of the match for his match winning innings.
This win will do no harm for Ireland’s claims for a Test status as the win was not only convincing but also showed how much Irish cricket has progressed. The bowling looked organized while the batting looked in control and they focused on building partnerships. Bangladesh can only square the series now and will look to do so when the sides meet again tomorrow in Belfast.
This win comes after Ireland had only recently won the World Cricket League Division One trophy by overcoming the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745.
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