Bangladesh-Ireland ODI Series
1st Match Played at Sylhet on 18 March 2023
Brief Scorecard:
Bangladesh 338/8 (Shakib Al Hasan 93, Towhid Hridoy 92, Mushfiqur Rahim 44, Graham Hume 4/ 60)
Ireland 155 All Out in 30.5 Overs (George Dockrell 45, Stephen Doheny 34 , Paul Sterling 24, Ebadat Hossain 4/42 , Nasum Ahmed 3/43, Taskin Ahmed 2/15)
Bangladesh Won By 183 Runs.
Player of The Match: Towhid Hridoy
Highest Score of a country in the ODI (388/8), victory by the largest margin (183) in ODI, debutant scoring highest run (92), worlds best all-rounder achieving new high (7000 Runs and 300).
When all the above happen in one match one can imagine what happens to losing the match. Yes, vanquished Ireland crashed to an ignominious defeat by 183 runs. All guns blazing Bangladesh out batted, out bowled and hammered crashing blows. Badly bruised, battered and pulverized Ireland may have to reassess all their option to compete in the rest of the matches of the series. Put into bat first on a wicket giving some initial assistance to pacers Bangladesh raced to their highest ODI score of 338/8 in allotted overs.
Shakib looked at his flamboyant best scoring 93 magical runs. Debutant Towhid Hridoy crowned his arrival with a glorious 92, Mushfique also joined the party scoring blistering 44 in 28 deliveries. Ireland in reply had no resources to combat against probing Bangladesh attack. They were crashed to 183 runs defeat getting bundled out for 155. Bangladesh stormed into the series forging ahead 1-0. It is highly unlikely that Ireland can turn it around over the next two matches on the same venue.
It is known to the cricket world that Bangladesh is impregnable in ODI format at home. Only in the last series against world champions England, Bangladesh went down fighting 2-1 after remaining unbeaten for 7 years. Ireland is no match at this moment in ODI format. But few could imagine that Bangladesh will sweep them away in the manner it did yesterday. Irish bowling looked rugged and pretty ordinary against merciless counter punching by sizzling Shakib and terrific Towhid the debutant. The two matching strokes for strokes adding 135 glittering like gold runs took the wind away from Irish sail. However, both failed in reaching milestones.
Shakib could post 10 ODI series had he restrained from chasing a ball of Hume leaving him after scoring 93. Towhid could achieve a debutants century if not losing his stumps to a yorker off Hume. Shakib did justice to his reputation. But Towhid Hridoy playing brilliantly announced arrival of a new champion to Bangladesh cricket. In his stroke filled innings of 92 he was a joy to watch. After departure of Shakib, Mushfique looked hungry as he dispatched Irish bowlers all around the park racing to 44 in 28 deliveries. Bangladesh posted 338/8 the highest score in ODI cricket. Of the Irish bowlers only Graham Hume (4/60) could make some impression. Others were made to look pretty ordinary.
Ireland could start well as their openers could reach 60 without loss by the 11th over. Shakib had Doheny caught behind by Mushfique for 34. From there on Irish succumbed to brilliant Bangladesh bowling. Ebadat, Taskin bowled with pace and aggression. Mushfique looked sharp and agile behind the wicket. Nasum also chipped in. None but Dockrell (45) could resist the surge of Bangladesh attack. The innings got wrapped up for 155 in only 30.5 Overs. Bangladesh recorded its largest ODI win by 183 runs. Ebadat taking 4/42 was the peak of Bangladesh bowlers. Nasum Ahmed (3/43) and Taskin (2/15) also proved tough to handle. Bangladesh looks like a well-oiled machine at this moment. Everything seems to be going on their way. Hope team management will rotate their options smartly in the series keeping the nucleus of the team intact. Ireland will have think and do a lot to even prove competitive.
BDST: 1100 HRS, MAR 19, 2023
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