BD A take 2-0 lead

Bangladesh A registered a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Ireland A in the third one-dayer of a five match series, courtesy of some clinical blowing from the home team who now lead the series 2-0, at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar yesterday.

The Bangladesh bowlers piled on the pressure right from the start as Ireland, after electing to bat, kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie did try to steady the ship with a team high 52 runs off 90 balls, featuring three fours and six, while Shane Getkate added 23. However, as none of the other batsmen were able to reach double figures, the visitors were eventually bundled out on just 103 runs from 35.4 overs.

As for the Bangladesh bowlers, left-arm seamer Abu Haider was the best among the lot as he picked up three wickets at the cost of 29 runs from his eight overs while left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam and leg-spinner Tanvir Haider bagged two each.

The home team faced no difficulty what so ever in reaching the target in just 23 overs, aside from the loss of openers Sadman Islam (24) and Anamul Haque (20), where skipper Nazmul Hossain remained unbeaten on 41 runs off 38 balls, including eight fours, alongside Al Amin who was not out on 14.

The fourth match of the series will take place today at the same venue.

SCORES IN BRIEF

IRELAND A: 103 all out in 35.4 overs (Balbirnie 52, Getkate 23; Haider 3-29, Sunzamul 2-23, Tanbir 2-14)

BANGLADESH A: 106 for 2 in 23 overs (Shadman 24, Anamul 20, Nazmul 41 not out, Al-Amin 14 not out; Dockreil 1-23)

Result: Bangladesh A won by 8 wickets.

Player-of-the-match: Abu Haider.