Bangladesh A win sole T20

Al-Amin and captain Nazmul Hasan put the Ireland A bowlers to the sword as Bangladesh A posted a four-wicket victory in their T20 match at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar yesterday.

The fourth game was supposed to be a 50-over affair but both the teams' management agreed to play a T20 game as they did not want to play three one-dayers in as many days.

The final match of the series will be held at the same venue and it will be a 50-over match. Bangladesh have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the one-day series.

"It was a T20 match as both teams agreed to play a T20 game instead of a 50-over game due to the hectic schedule. The last match will be a 50-over game," informed match referee Roquibul Hasan.

Ireland set a challenging target of 172, which Bangladesh overcame on the back of a 58-run third-wicket partnership between Nazmul and Al-Amin. They added those runs in just 5.2 overs.

Al-Amin smashed eight fours and two sixes during his 40-ball 67 while Nazmul struck four boundaries and three sixes during his 26-ball 47.

Barry McCarthy took two wickets, while Andrew McBrine, Peter Chase, Stuart Thompson and Simi Singh scalped one each.

Earlier, Ireland scored 171 courtesy of Andy Balbirnie's 51-ball 83, a knock that contained seven fours and four sixes.

Bangladesh pacer Imran Ali Enam took three wickets while Mahedi Hasan, Abu Hider and Abul Hasan took one each.

SCORES IN BRIEF

IRELAND A: 170 for 7 (Balbirnie 83; Imran 3-33)

BANGLADESH A: 172 for 6 in 19.4 overs (Al-Amin 67, Nazmul 47; McCarthy 2-32)

Result: Bangladesh A won by four wickets.

Player-of-the-match: Andy Balbirnie.