Tigers seal series sweep

Niall O'Brien's fine innings can't stop Ireland from losing again

Last updated: 22nd March 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tigers seal series sweep

Iqbal: Maiden one-day hundred in Mirpur

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Bangladesh completed a series sweep over Ireland with a 79-run win in the third one-day international in Mirpur.

Tamim Iqbal smashed 129 to help the home side post an imposing target of 293-7 from their 50 overs after skipper Mohammad Ashraful had decided to bat first.

Shahriar Nafees contributed a breezy 54 in an opening stand of 109 while Mahmudullah smashed 49 not out as the Tigers tore apart Ireland's bowlers.

Ireland never really threatened in their run chase, wickets tumbling at regular intervals to stop them from gaining any momentum.

Niall O'Brien ended up as their top scorer with 70 from 74 balls before they were eventually bowled out for 214 in the 46th over.

Maiden hundred

Tamim's maiden ton was the highlight of the match, the left-hander making the second highest score by a Bangladesh batsman in one-day cricket.

He hit 15 fours and a six in his 137-ball innings before falling in the closing overs. His only life came when Andre Botha dropped a sharp return catch in the 12th over.

Nafees' early onslaught had put Bangladesh in a strong position but they suffered a mid-innings wobble, slipping from 109 without loss to 178 for five.

However, Mahmudullah - playing in just his fourth ODI - made sure they did not lose their way in the final stages, cracking four fours in his 44-ball knock as he and Tamim put on 82 at quicker than a-run-a-ball rate.

Dave Langford-Smith finished as Ireland's leading bowler with 3-53, while Kevin O'Brien and Alex Cusack both picked up two wickets apiece.

Run outs

The tourists' hopes of ending their tour on a winning note were not helped by the fact they had four run outs in their innings.

William Porterfield was the first to be caught short of his ground, ending a promising opening stand that had seen 34 runs come from the first 45 balls.

Only Niall O'Brien managed to stick around for any length of time after that, the Northamptonshire wicketkeeper fighting a lone hand to try and keep his team on target with the run rate.

Mashrafe Mortaza bowled nine overs and conceded just 32 runs, though, also managing to pick up the wicket of Eoin Morgan.