ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: Bagladesh Beat Ireland by 27 Runs

Bangladesh overcame a solid effort from Ireland to rapturous home support, at Mirpur on Friday 25th February 2011.

After being set a total of 205 All Out by Bangladesh, Ireland were removed for 178 on 45 Overs, meaning that Bangladesh won by 27 runs.

Bagladesh had won the toss and elected to bat, on what turned out to be a relatively slow wicket by sub-continent standards, but they set about adding runs at a reasonably swift rate until Kayes (12), who had struggled to get a start, fell with the score on 53 for 1.

Kayes had been stumped by N O’Brien from the bowling of Mooney, and this dismissal was soon followed by two more, which worried home fans who were not expecting their Test match cricket team to come up against a stern test against the cricketing prowess of Ireland.

Siddique (3) was run out by Ed Joyce, before opener Tamim Iqbal (44), who looked to have played himself in, was caught by Porterfield from the bowling of Botha – who went on to record excellent figures of 3 for 32 from his 9 overs.

When Shakib (16) was caught and bowled by Botha, some 18 runs later, Bagladesh appeared in danger of seeing this match slip away from them, as the score had slid to 86 for 4 wickets, having been 53 without loss.

However, an important couple of innings came from Mushfiqur Rahim (36), batting number four, and Raqibul Hasan (38), at number six, who steadied the ship a little. Rahim was caught White bowled Dockrell, as was the disappointing Ashraful (1) just three runs later, before Raqibul Hasan was run out, also by White, in another flurry of Bangladesh wickets.

But for an important 29 runs from Naeem Islam who was batting at eight, this match could have been gone altogether, as there was little further resistance offered from the Bangladesh tail end.

Ireland removed the hosts on 205 with four balls remaining, having restricted them to a smidgen over 4 runs an over.

Despite most of their batsmen getting in and offer the mark – six of their top seven made double figures – Ireland fell just short of the achievable total, as they proved to be one reasonable performance short of making 206.

Bangladesh regularly chipped away at Ireland’s batting order, and allowed no partnership to build during the innings, which made it difficult for Ireland, who did, however, keep up to the required run-rate, to reach the total.

If Ireland were to win, it seemed, it was most likely to happen with an O’Brien at the crease: N O’Brien top scored with 38, one better than K O’Brien, who hit 37. A half century for either could have pushed them over the line.

As it was, some solid bowling from Shafiul Islam, who collected 4 wickets for only 21 runs from his 8 overs, proved to be the difference between winning and losing for the Irish, as they fell 27 runs short of the target in what was an impressive display nonetheless.

Bangladesh will hope for more, particularly from their batsmen, in their next match, with the West Indies, though they will feel that their bowling attack has enough to worry even the impressive Chris Gayle and co.

Ireland face India next, which will be no easy task, though, on the evidence of this match, they have got enough ability to make the game more than a little interesting – in particular, the bowling of Botha and Dockrell was admirable against high class opposition

Bangladesh v Ireland – ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Scorecard