Ireland defeats Bangladesh by 39 runs in T20 series opener. Photo : BCB

DHAKA, Nov 27, 20025 (BSS)- A poor batting performance saw Bangladesh slump 
to a crushing 39-run defeat to Ireland in the three-match T20 series opener 
at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Stadium in 
Chattogram today.

Chasing a challenging target of 182, Bangladesh managed to put up 142-9 after 
a disastrous start, as they were reduced to 5-3 in the fourth over. 

Despite a lone fight from Towhid Hridoy, who struck a career-best 83 not out 
off 50 balls, Bangladesh's batting collapse was too much to overcome.

Ireland posted a competitive 181-4, thanks to a well-composed knock from 
Harry Tector, who remained unbeaten on 69 from 45 balls. 

The early breakthroughs and steady pressure from the Irish bowlers gave them 
the upper hand throughout the match.

Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys who shined in with the bowling amid 
Ireland 2-0 loss in Test series, translated his form to the T20 format, 
finishing with his career-best 4-13, a performance that was instrumental in 
Ireland's crushing victory.

He gave the side breakthrough in the opening over, having dismissed Tanzid 
Hasan Tamim for two before Mark Adair dealt a double to jolt Bangladesh 
further.

Adair sent back Parvez Hossain Emon and Liton Das, both for 1 in consecutive 
overs, returning figures of 2-20.

Pacer Barry McCarthy got into act after a while with the wicket of Saif 
Hassan for 6, leaving Bangladesh 18-4.

Bangladesh tried to claw back into the game through Towhid Hridoy and Jaker 
Ali, who played patiently in order to rebuild the innings. 

But McCarthy undid Jaker with a short ball for 20, ending the 48-run 
partnership.

Humphreys then returned to second spell to take three wickets in four balls, 
throwing Bangladesh out of the game completely.

Hridoy, however, kept striking the ball at will, knowing that a victory is 
improbably from that position.

However, he raised his fifth T20 half-century from 34 ball, slapping a 
delivery of Curtis Campher to deep point for a single.

He and Shoriful Islam combined for a 48-run for the ninth wicket to delay 
Ireland's victory.

McCarthy ended Shoriful resistance for 12, to finish with 3-23 but Hriody 
remained unconquered. 

Earlier, the knock by Tector, laced with one four and five sixes, drove the 
side to a challenging target for Bangladesh after Irish openers gave the side 
a fluent start.

Bangladesh sent Ireland into bat first, considering the night dew which is 
believed to make the bowlers' task difficult.

Captain Paul Stirling and Tim Tector, the brother of Harry Tector, added 40 
runs from 26 balls, before the captain top-edged a delivery of Tanzim Hasan 
Sakib for 21.

The Tector brothers kept up the aggressive brand of cricket until Tim Tector 
perished to a big shot after hammering 19 ball-32.

Harry Tector held together the innings amid the regular strike of Bangladesh 
bowlers before flourishing in the last over, taking the total past 180.

Curtis Campher was the other notable scorer with 24 before being undone by 
Tanzim Sakib, who ended with team-best 2-41.