Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto's ton and then the finishing touches by Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh secured an important victory in the final over of their second one-day international against Ireland on Friday, May 13.
The match, which was hit by rain at the very beginning and was reduced to 45 overs each, saw the hosts Ireland smash a brilliant 319-6 thanks to a team-record 140 by Harry Tector.
For the visitors, Najmul's 117 laid the foundation for Bangladesh's reply, and when four runs were needed from the last four balls, wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur hit a boundary to give Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the series after the fist match was washed out
Openers Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das lost their wickets early in the chase but then, Shakib Al Hasan hit five boundaries during his innings of 26. His dismissal brought Towhid Hridoy to the crease, and his partnership with Najmul regained the momentum for Bangladesh.
Their stand of 131 in 17 overs had Bangladesh cruising. But in the same over that Najmul reached his maiden ODI hundred, Hridoy holed out for 68. Soon followed Najmul, who was out after facing 93 balls by pulling Curtis Campher once too often.
After Mehidy Hasan Miraz's 19-run cameo, Bangladesh needed only 34 off 32 balls but drama ensued. Mushfiqur barely survived a run-out chance and in the final over he hit Mark Adair straight to square leg, but the high full toss was declared a no-ball. Mushfiqur ramped the extra ball over the wicketkeeper to the boundary to win the match.
Earlier, the slick, cold conditions and small ground disadvantaged the bowlers, but the Ireland openers were out quickly, much like their Bangladeshi counterparts. Tector took over with support from captain Andrew Balbirnie. Three sixes in four balls off Taijul Islam brought up Tector's half-century off 54 balls and lifted Irish confidence.
When Balbirnie departed for 42 in a stand of 98, Tector was joined by George Dockrell in a belligerent century stand. Tector reached his fourth ODI century off 93 balls. Tector fell a ball after hitting his 10th six, a record for Ireland in an ODI.
Dockrell's unbeaten 74 equalled his best score for Ireland.
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