Bangladesh Emerging Team have defeated Ireland Wolves in a nail biting encounter, clinching a five-run victory, during their fifth and final unofficial ODI at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium on Sunday.
With the win, hosts Bangladesh complete the series with a 4-0 sweep. They won the second, third and the fourth game comprehensively while the first match was abandoned as one of the players was found Covid-19 positive initially.
Losing the toss Bangladesh had gone to bat first before they eventually post a challenging total of 260 riding on in-form opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s brilliant century.
Bangladesh lost captain Saif Hasan early but Joy stood firm at one end and played until 49th over of the innings to score a sublime 123-run knock off 135 deliveries.
Joy’s innings was composed of nine boundaries and three over boundaries.
Anisul Islam (41) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (33) also scored some valuable runs to get their team total past 250-run mark.
Mark Adair was the best bowler for Ireland Wolves as he picked three wickets conceding 27 runs.
In reply, Ireland made a shaky start as they lost the wicket of opener Jeremy Lawlor in the second over when he was bowled by Shafiqul Islam.
But other opener Stephen Doheny and number three Adair formed a 97-run partnership in the second wicket to gave them a good platform to chase 261.
But Bangladesh bowlers struck regularly in the middle overs and eventually Ireland were just five runs short, all out for 255 in their stipulated 50 overs.
Although Bangladesh skipper Saif was unimpressive with the bat, scoring only three, but bowled impressively with his off spin as he took three wickets conceding just 31 runs in his 10 overs.
Joy was adjudged man of the match for his brilliant century. The young batman, who scored 285 runs with one century and two half centuries, was also adjudged man of the series.