Litton, Tamim make quick work of short chase after Mahmud’s maiden five-for

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Ireland was never given a chance by Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das

Openers Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal made short work of a 102-run target as Bangladesh defeated Ireland by ten wickets in the third ODI in Sylhet and completed a 2-0 series lead. 

For the first time in the format, Bangladesh’s fast bowlers took all ten wickets in an innings as the visitors were bowled out for 101 in 28.1 overs.

The game was completed in just 13.1 overs, which is Bangladesh’s second-shortest ODI chase already led to Tamim and Litton, who put on a strokeplay display to cheer up the short chase. 

This was also Bangladesh’s first ten-wicket victory in ODIs after they defeated Ireland in the first ODI by a record-breaking margin of runs.

A limited audience gathered up at the gorgeous Sylhet venue on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan starting, and returned home just after sundown. Ireland’s 101 ended a run of five consecutive 300+ totals by the team batting first on this pitch.

The overwhelming dominance of the Bangladesh fast bowlers was described perfectly by Hasan Mahmud’s first five-wicket haul, Taskin Ahmed’s three-wicket burst, and Ebadot Hossain’s two-for. 

Although Shakib Al Hasan was only given the opportunity to bowl three times in his ODI career, the spinners were only required for four total overs. 

It was a day out for the quicks on the fast and bouncy Sylhet pitch, a rarity among grounds in Bangladesh. The conditions pushed the team management to choose six bowlers including the three seamers.

Mahmud dismissed openers Stephen Doheny and Paul Stirling in a solid opening run. Doheny was caught behind for 8 after scratching around for 20 balls before Stirling, dropped on 5, got to 7 when Mahmud trapped him lbw in the ninth over. 

As he lbw-trapped Harry Tector later in the same over, the legside fast bowler quickly added his third wicket. Taskin got captain Andy Balbirnie caught at first slip for just 6 as Ireland crashed to 26 for 4 before the first powerplay was up.

Then came their only famous partnership. Ireland successfully reached the three-figure mark due to a 42-run partnership between Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher for the fifth wicket. 

The only two players to reach double digits in the innings were Campher and Tucker, who both scored 36 and 28 respectively.

But it didn’t last long. Ebadot’s in-dipper had Tucker lbw. Following the ball, Ebadot clean-bowled George Dockrell for a golden duck as Ireland fell to 68 for 6.

Then, in his seventh over, Taskin hit again, first getting Andy McBrine to top-edge a quick bouncer and then getting Adair to inside-edge his second delivery onto the stumps.

Campher was the eighth wicket that went, top-edging Mahmud into fine leg. Taskin took a comfortable catch, celebrating the younger team-first mate’s four-wicket haul. When Graham Hume was lbw for three by Mahmud, it quickly increased to five.

Tamim began the chase with a slashing four over point and then blasted the Irish fast bowlers for boundaries through square-leg and cover. A back-foot punch by Litton that looked great from every angle was among the many boundaries he delivered through the covers. 

After two expensive overs from left-arm bowler Matthew Humphreys, the Bangladesh opening duo temporarily settled down.

In his third over, Tamim flighted Humphreys for a string of sixes before Litton drove Campher through the covers. Before Tamim scored the winning runs, he blasted two fours against Humphreys to earn his eleventh ODI fifty.

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