Sterling leads Ireland to maiden Bangladesh win, CHITTAGONG Paul Sterling hit an aggressive 77 off 41 balls to lift Ireland to their first win against Bangladesh on Bangladeshi soil in Friday’s third and final T20 match.
The guests lost the opening two matches but contended to 126- 3 in 14 overs after brushing out their hosts for 124 in Chittagong. Shamim Hossain struck his miss 50 to lift Bangladesh from a precarious 41- 5 but it was not enough to deny Ireland their first win of the stint.
Sterling hit 10 fours and four sixes, including a six and three fours off consecutive deliveries, to quicken his team’s win. Taskin Ahmed sailed Ross Adair for seven before Shoriful Islam dismissed Lorcan Tucker for four, but Sterling shared a 68- run cooperation with Harry Tector for the third gate to keep Ireland on course.
Ireland were well in control by the time debutant leg- incitement Rishad Hossain had Sterling caught by Najmul Hossain at long on.
Curtis Campher sealed the win with a six off Taskin.
Mark Adair led Ireland’s bowling attack with 3- 25, while Matthew Humphreys picked up 2- 10, denying Bangladesh the occasion to make any significant alliances. Adair dismissed the in- form Liton Das for five off his first ball in the alternate over.
Shamim, who came at number six hit five fours and two sixes to take Bangladesh past the 100 run mark before he came the last man dismissed. Bangladesh won the preexisting one- day international series 2- 0. The two armies will now play a one- off Test starting on Tuesday in Dhaka.
