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Published : 29 Mar 2023, 02:20 PM
A gritty allround show from skipper Shakib Al Hasan and a spectacular blitz by Litton Das have guided Bangladesh to a commanding 77-run win to secure the T20 series against Ireland with a match to spare in Chattogram.
Shakib’s 5 for 22 saw him become the highest T20I wicket-taker with 136 scalps, surpassing New Zealand’s Tim Southee (134).
Earlier, Litton bludgeoned 83 to power the Tigers to a massive 202 for 3 in 17 overs in a rain-reduced game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Wednesday.
Shakib’s spin showcase came after his unbeaten 38 with the bat. He became the first cricketer to take a five-for and score 30-plus runs in a T20I twice in his career.
Shakib's five-for is also the fourth time a bowler took five wickets in the first six overs of a T20I innings, emulating Lasith Malinga, Fred Klaassen and Oshane Thomas.
Ireland never appeared up to the task in their chase and finished on 125 for 9.
Taskin Ahmed (3-27) drew first blood, striking first ball to take out the experienced Paul Stirling.
Shakib, who started three wickets behind Southee, then took it upon himself to run through the Irish batting order.
He also landed a blow with his first ball to take out Lorcan Tucker (6) with a slower delivery. He returned in the next over with a flurry of varieties and sent Ross Adair (6) packing with a flighted arm ball before Gareth Delany (6) took a bottom edge to the wicketkeeper.
The talismanic allrounder then trapped George Dockrell (2) in front in his third over to take over the record.
Harry Tector (22) fought back by slamming three sixes but Shakib castled him with another pitch perfect arm-ball two balls later to cap off an extraordinary display.
With his team toiling on 43 for 6, Curtis Campher scored a fluent 29-ball 50 but it was too little too late as the required rate surged past 18 runs per over.
Taskin snared two more wickets while Hasan Mahmud (1-6) chipped in with another as Bangladesh secured their fifth straight win in the format, eighth overall.
Earlier, Litton led another marauding show with the bat by Bangladesh after showers had delayed the start of the game by an hour and 40 mins and reduced the game to 17 overs a side.
He and Rony Talukdar (44) put up Bangladesh’s highest opening partnership, 124, in the format in only 9.2 overs, registering their fastest 100-plus stand for any wicket.
Litton smashed the Tigers’ fastest 50 off only 18 balls to topple Mohammad Ashraful's 16-year-old 20-ball half-century in the format.
The pair put Irish bowlers to the sword from the outset, scoring their first fifty runs off only 21 deliveries and racing to the second off just 23 balls. They breezed to 100 in 7.1 overs, only the second century opening stand for the team after 102 between Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim against Zimbabwe.
Litton bludgeoned 10 boundaries and 3 sixes in his 41-ball innings while Rony cracked 3 fours and 2 sixes in 23 balls.
Rony then holed out at long on off Ben White (2-28) as Ireland tried to pull things back with some tight overs, much to the frustration of Litton.
Impatient by how things were progressing, Litton then threw his bat at a wider delivery to be caught behind.
With Bangladesh on 138 for 2, Shakib, who promoted himself to three, dug deep with Towhid Hridoy (24) and stitched another quickfire 61 to the total.
Busy as ever in the middle, Shakib clubbed 3 boundaries and 2 sixes in 24 balls to see his team through the innings.
Adjudged Player of the Match, Shakib said: “It obviously feels good. It was important to show up today and that's what we did. We've discussed our aggressive approach and need to do it to be an aggressive, competitive side. Luckily it's coming off.”
“When I batted and Tector was bowling, the ball spun and gripped a lot. I thought there was something on the wicket and thought of employing spinners. If we go to Australia or England and they are 2-0 down, they will look to go 3-0.”
“We will not be complacent, maybe try new guys but they will be just as hungry to score runs or get wickets.”
Ireland Captain Stirling said: “That was tricky no doubt. Few of the same errors from the last 2 weeks. We'll have a think tomorrow and hopefully do better on Friday.”
“We didn't think it was gonna be as one-sided as it has been. We don't feel there are any dead rubbers. So we look forward to playing on Friday.”
