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Bangladesh’s home T20I season opened with a jolt in Chattogram as Ireland outplayed the hosts by 39 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, riding on a composed batting display and a career-best spell from left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys. At the Bir Shrestho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium on November 27, Ireland posted a strong 181/4 before restricting Bangladesh to 142/9, despite a lone fight from Towhid Hridoy.
Ireland posts a formidable total against Bangladesh
Put in to bat after Litton Das opted to field, Ireland made a steady start as skipper Paul Stirling and Tim Tector added 40 for the opening wicket, balancing caution with regular boundaries in the powerplay. Stirling’s 21 off 18 set the tempo before he fell at 1-40, while Tim Tector’s brisk 32 off 19, laced with six fours, ensured Ireland reached 71/2 by the eighth over to seize early momentum.
The backbone of Ireland’s innings came from Harry Tector, who produced a mature unbeaten 69 from 45 deliveries, mixing smart strike rotation with selective aggression as he hit one four and five sixes. He accelerated decisively after the halfway mark, bringing up his fifty off 37 balls and guiding Ireland from 77/2 at drinks to 181/4 by the end of 20 overs, with late support from Curtis Campher (24 off 17) and George Dockrell’s quick 12* off seven balls. Bangladesh’s attack struggled for control on a true surface, with Tanzim Hasan Sakib the only bowler to pick up multiple wickets, finishing with 2/41, while Mustafizur Rahman’s economical 0/23 from four overs prevented an even more daunting total.
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Matthew Humphreys stars with four wickets in the first T20I
Chasing 182, Bangladesh’s reply unraveled almost immediately as Ireland’s new-ball and spin combination shredded the top order during the powerplay. Humphreys struck in his first over to remove Tanzid Hasan for 2, and seamer Mark Adair followed up with quick blows to dismiss Das and Parvez Hossain Emon cheaply, leaving the hosts tottering at 5/3 and then 18/4 when Barry McCarthy bowled Saif Hassan.
Humphreys returned for a decisive second spell that turned a recovery attempt into a full-blown collapse after Hridoy and Jaker Ali had added 48 for the fifth wicket to take Bangladesh to 66/4. In a stunning over, the left-arm spinner removed Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed in quick succession, ripping through the lower order and reducing Bangladesh from 71/5 to 74/8 en route to figures of 4/13 from four overs. His spell, marked by subtle changes of pace, tight lines and sharp support in the field including a sharp stumping by Lorcan Tucker, earned him the Player of the Match award and effectively sealed the contest.
Hridoy was the lone pillar in Bangladesh’s chase, compiling a career-best unbeaten 83 off 50 balls with seven fours and three sixes, shepherding the tail and ensuring the hosts batted out the full 20 overs. However, with only two Bangladeshi batters reaching double figures and the required rate spiralling after the early collapse, his effort merely narrowed the margin as McCarthy (3/23) and Adair (2/20) provided incisive support to Humphreys, restricting Bangladesh to 142/9 and handing Ireland a statement 39-run win to go 1-0 up in the T20I series.
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