Bangladesh secured a crucial four-wicket victory against Ireland in the second T20 match at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram, keeping the three-match series alive and leveling it at 1-1. The series decider will be played on Monday at the same venue.
Ireland posted a challenging total of 170 for 6. Openers Paul Stirling (29 off 14, including 3 fours and 2 sixes) and Tim Tector (38 off 25) provided an explosive start, racing to 75 runs in the first six overs. Stirling was dismissed by pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, making a crucial impact by claiming two wickets in four balls (including both Tector brothers) and dismissing Ben Calitz in his next over, leaving Ireland struggling at 103-4 and curbing their momentum. Mahedi Hasan's final figures were 3 for 25. Lorcan Tucker steadied the innings with a top score of 41 off 32 balls (4 fours) to help Ireland reach a respectable total.
Bangladesh successfully chased the target, reaching 174 for 6. Captain Liton led the chase, scoring a well-composed 57 off 37 balls (including his 20th T20 fifty). Liton and Parvez Hossain Emon (43) built a crucial 60-run partnership before Emon was dismissed by a reverse-sweep. Liton's dismissal (LBW to Mark Adair) triggered a mini-collapse, where Bangladesh lost four wickets for 19 runs in the next 20 balls. Mohammad Saifuddin diffused the pressure, hitting a six on the first ball he faced, and ultimately guided the team to victory with a quick-fire 17 not out off 7 balls.
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