Ireland have fallen to a 44 run defeat against the hosts Bangladesh in Fatullah this morning in their final warm up match ahead of the ICC World Twenty20.
Despite an innings of 44 at a run a ball from captain William Porterfield and some late hitting from Stuart Thompson who smashed 35 off just 19 balls, Ireland have slipped to a heavy defeat against Bangladesh in front of a partisan home crowd. It was always going to be a tough ask to score at 9 runs an over on a pitch that was suited to the spinners and the steady flow of wickets including single figure scores for Stirling, Wilson, Kevin O’Brien and Sorensen made keeping up with the rate impossible.
Earlier, a partnership of 116 in less than 10 overs by Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim saw Bangladesh accelerate to a big total of 179 for 3 from their 20 overs today. Ireland opened with spin from both ends as Paul Stirling and Andy McBrine bowled tight 4 over spells, picking up a wicket each.
George Dockrell struck with the first ball of his spell to remove Tamim Iqbal to leave Ireland possibly on top with the score at 63 for 3. However that was as good as it got for Ireland with the big crowd cheering on the hosts stunning 4th wicket partnership as Mushfiqur and Shakib shared 18 boundaries in a partnership that was particularly harsh on Ireland’s seamers.
It will be all eyes to St. Patrick’s Day now for Ireland with the crucial showdown against Zimbabwe starting at 9.30am.
Full Report to Follow
Toss: Bangladesh, who chose to bat
Venue: Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah
Umpires: RK Illingworth, RA Kettleborough
Bangladesh Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim*, Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque†, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Sohag Gazi, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah, Farhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Al-Amin Hossain, Shamsur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Mominul Haque
Ireland Squad: WTS Porterfield*, PR Stirling, EC Joyce, AD Poynter, GC Wilson†, KJ O’Brien, SR Thompson, AR Cusack, GH Dockrell, AR McBrine, TJ Murtagh, JNK Shannon, NJ O’Brien, MC Sorensen, CA Young
Shakib Al Hasan was outstanding for Bangladesh © IDI/Getty Images 
Cricket Ireland
Ireland were put to the sword by Bangladesh © IDI/Getty Images
Yes
Connaught
