BAN vs IRE: Bangladesh routs Ireland in 2nd T20, clinches series

Liton Das struck a 41-ball 83 and skipper Shakib Al Hasan took 5-22 as Bangladesh defeated Ireland by 77 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Bangladesh won the second T20I against Ireland by 77 runs. | Photo Credit: AFP

Bangladesh routed Ireland by 77 runs in the second T20 international in Chattogram on Wednesday to clinch the three-match series.

Opener Liton Das struck a 41-ball 83 and skipper Shakib Al Hasan took 5-22 in a game reduced to 17 overs because of rain delays.

Liton’s half-century off just 18 deliveries was the fastest by a Bangladeshi batter, eclipsing Mohammad Ashraful’s 20 ball-fifty in 2007 against the West Indies at the T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh had won the first match by 22 runs through the DLS method.

Put in to bat first, Bangladesh scored almost 12 runs per over to compile a hefty 202-3. The visitors responded with 125-9.

Liton and Rony Talukdar combined for a Bangladesh record of 124 runs for the opening stand to give their side a solid start.

They immediately went after the Irish bowlers and picked up 73 runs in the first five overs. Liton brought up his 10th half-century by pushing legpsinner Ben White’s delivery to backward square leg for a single.

Talukdar treated another legspinner Gareth Delany with two sixes to join the party.

White, who eventually ended with figures of 2-28 in Bangladesh’s run fest, provided some relief by dismissing Talukdar after he hit 44 off 23.

Liton appeared to be on course of his maiden century but edged one off White that spun slightly.

Shakib and Towhid Hridoy kept the runs flowing and added 61 off 29 before the latter was removed on 24 in the penultimate delivery. Shakib was not out on 38 off 24.

Ireland’s run-chase sustained a major setback when fast blower Taskin Ahmed (3-27) had Paul Stirling caught by Liton on the first delivery of the innings.

Shakib then got into the act, with a slower delivery that baffled Lorcan Tucker (6). He then struck twice in his second over to get the better of Ross Adair and Delany for single-digit figure.

Shakib gave Bangladesh another double-wicket over to complete his second five-for, dismissing George Dockrell and then Harry Tector, who struck three sixes for his 16 ball-22. Curtis Campher top-scored for the visitors with 50 from 30 balls.

The teams conclude the series Friday before a one-off test starting next Tuesday in Dhaka.