B\\\'desh lose to Ireland again in 2nd warm-up

Bangladesh conceded a four-wicket defeat against Ireland in the second and last official warm-up match ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup'2015 at Blacktown Olympic Park Oval in Sydney, Australia Thursday, reports UNB.

With this, the Tigers conceded four consecutive defeats in their preparation matches ahead of the world cricket extravaganza.

Bangladesh lost to the former World Cup champions Pakistan by three wickets in the first official warm-up match Monday (February 9), following their losses in two unofficial warm-up matches against Cricket Australia XI last week in Brisbane.

Sent to bat first in the day's match, Bangladesh were all out for meager 189 runs in 48 overs.

Soumya Sarkar scored team highest 45 runs off 51 balls with two fours before he was run out. This followed a collapse where only Mushfiqur Rahim (26) and skipper Mashrafee Mortaza (22) made notable contributions. Anamul Haque was very slow to start with, and just looked well set for a big score, but was dismissed by AR McBrine after scoring a painstaking 25 runs off 72 balls.

Opener Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque were dismissed by the pacers early with score board showing 30 runs for 2 in 10 overs. Number seven Sabbir Rahman (20) was the other double digit contributor for Bangladesh.

MC Sorensen and JF Mooney grabbed three wickets each for 31 and 32 runs respectively while AR McBrine, GH Dockrell and KJ O'Brien took one wicket each for 11, 24 and 39 runs respectively.

Chasing a relatively small target, Ireland began carefully. Shakib came in and drew first blood, getting the prized wicket of Paul Stirling.

Skipper William Porterfield was out next, caught by Mushfiqur Rahim off Al Amin Hossain, after scoring a steady 24. Two more quick wickets followed and at 78 for 4, the Tigers felt they had a great chance.

However, those hopes were quelled by a wonderful fifth wicket stand of 59 runs in 14.1 overs between EC Joyce and Andy Balbinrie. Joyce was picked up by Taijul Islam with the score on 137 for 5 in 39.1 overs, but by that time he had played his part with a patient 47.

Kevin O'Brien came in and took charge immediately, scoring a quick 23. He fell with victory in sight, but Balbinrie was unbeaten on 63 off 79 balls.

Taijul Islam finally showed some positive signs with two wickets for 29 runs with economical bowling figures in 8 overs. Captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza was brilliant as well, conceding just 13 runs in 8 overs.  Nasir Hossain, Al Amin Hossain and Taskin Ahmed picked up a wicket each.

The defeat against ICC associate Ireland is a discouraging sign for Bangladesh ahead of their first match against Afghanistan Wednesday (February 18) at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh: 189/10 in 48.2 overs; Soumya Sarkar 45, Mushfiqur Rahim 26, Anamul Haque Bijoy 25, Mashrafe bin Mortaza 22, Sabbir Rahman 20, MC Sorensen3/31, JF Mooney 3/32, AR McBrine 1/11, GH Dockrell 1/24, KJ O'Brien 1/39.

Ireland: 190/6 in 46.5 overs; A Balbirnie not out 63, EC Joyce 47, WTS Porterfield 24, KJ O'Brien 23, Taijul Islam 2/29, Nasir Hossain 1/13, Shakib Al Hasan 1/27, Al Amin Hossain 1/40, Taskin Ahmed 1/48.