Bangladesh bested by Ireland in second warm-up match

Bangladesh lost their second and final warm-up game ahead of the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman as Ireland beat them by 33 runs in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Batting first, Ireland put up a total of 177-3 courtesy of an unbeaten 88-run knock from Gareth Delany. In reply, none of the Bangladesh batsmen could score a fifty as they were all out for 144.

This means Bangladesh have lost both of their warm-up games, with their first defeat coming on Tuesday against Sri Lanka.

Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie won the toss and opted to bat first. The Irish had a good start as they raced to 33 in the first four overs before Nasum Ahmed got rid of Paul Stirling for 22.

Pacer Taskin Ahmed then struck in consecutive overs to send Balbirnie and George Dockrell back, reducing Ireland to 78-3.

But then began Delany’s wrath on the Bangladesh bowlers. The right-handed batsman struck eight sixes and three boundaries on his way to staying unbeaten on 88 off 50 deliveries and took Ireland to 177-3.

Taskin’s was Bangladesh’s best bowler on show as he picked up two wickets giving away 26 runs. But all of Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Nasum were expensive. Mustafiz gave away 40 in his four overs, with Shoriful giving away 41, and Nasum cost 33 runs in his three overs.

In reply, Bangladesh lost both their openers, Naim Sheikh and Liton Das, within the second over. Mushfiqur Rahim continued on his poor batting form as he was dismissed in the next over for four, and Bangladesh were reduced to 15-3.

Soumya Sarkar and Afif Hossain put up a brief 37-run stand before Afif perished for 17. And soon after,

Soumya, who scored 37 off 30 deliveries, was run out.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan showed some respite with his knock of 38 off 24 deliveries, but with no help from the other batters, Bangladesh were bowled out for 144.

Mark Adair was Ireland’s most successful bowler with three wickets, whereas Craig Young and Josh Little picked up a couple of wickets each. Simi Singh and Ben White also picked up a wicket each.

Bangladesh will now head back to Oman from UAE to play their first match in the preliminary stage of the World Cup against Scotland on Sunday.