Cricket:Ireland moved into a share of 10th spot in the world rankings alongside Zimbabwe with a stunning seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first of two RSA Challenge One-Day Internationals at Stormont in Belfast today.
The victory was based around a solid and disciplined bowling display that restricted Bangladesh to 234 for nine from their 50 overs after Ireland won the toss and put the visitors into bat.
Boyd Rankin was the pick of the Irish attack, the 6ft 8in Warwickshire player taking three for 43 from his ten overs, while Trent Johnston (two for 24) and Paul Stirling (two for 40) also excelled.
Bangladesh’s innings was held together by a century from Junaid Siddique and 50 from Shakib Al Hasan, the pair adding 107 for the third wicket after the dangerous opening pair of Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes both departed after making five.
Ireland roared from the blocks in reply, with Stirling hitting three fours in the second over from Syed Rasel to set the tone.
Stirling and skipper William Porterfield had also given Ireland the perfect start in last month’s clash against Australia, only for Ireland to fade once their opening partnership was ended after they had put on 80 runs.
But there was to be no such demise this time around, with Porterfield overtaking Stirling to make his 50 off 51 deliveries, including two sixes.
Stirling would bring up his fourth ODI half-century, also from 51 balls, only to be bowled by Abdur Razzak for 52. That ended the partnership at 118, Ireland’s highest for the first wicket in one-day internationals.
Porterfield was joined by Alex Cusack in a 90-run partnership for the second wicket, with the captain going on the record his fifth ODI century, coming off 105 balls with nine fours and three sixes.
He would eventually depart for 108, caught at midwicket by Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, with Ireland just 27 runs shy of victory and with 12 overs to spare.
Ireland would lose Niall O’Brien for five as they closed in on victory but younger brother Kevin would join Cusack to bring up the victory with five overs to spare, Cusack remaining unbeaten on 45.
Ireland now draw level with Zimbabwe in the ICC world one-day rankings. A victory in tomorrow’s second game would bring Phil Simmons’s side within 10 points of Bangladesh in ninth position.
Scores
Bangladesh 234-9(50 ovs) (J Siddique 100, S Al Hasan 50; B Rankin 3-43, T Johnston 2-24, P Stirling 2-40)
Ireland 235-3(W Porterfield 108, P Stirling 52, A Cusack 45no)
Ireland won by 7 wickets
