Tigers end World Cup preparation with another loss

A batting collapse while chasing a commendable total saw Bangladesh suffer a comprehensive 33-run defeat against Ireland in their second and final official T20 World Cup warm-up game at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi today.  

After an explosive unbeaten 88 from Gareth Delany helped Ireland to a challenging 177 for three, Bangladesh's top order crumbled under pressure during the chase as the Tigers were bundled out for 144 in 20 overs. 

Chasing a stiff target, Bangladesh, who did not have to chase such a big total in their last 10 T20Is, were reduced to 15 for three inside just 2.2 overs as the two openers Liton Das and Mohammad Naim along with batting mainstay Mushfiqur Rahim departed for scores of 1,3 and 4 respectively.   

Soumya Sarkar and Afif Hossain tried to rebuild but with the required rate ratcheting up, the latter fell to Benjamin White after a 16-ball 17 in the eighth over. 

Soumya, who scored a battling 34 in the Tigers' previous official warm-up game against Sri Lanka, was amongst the runs in this game as well. The left-hander smashed a solitary four and two maximums during his 30-ball 37 before being run-out in the 12th over. 

Meanwhile, Nurul Hasan Sohan's 24-ball 38 at the death only reduced the margin of the defeat as Bangladesh eventually fell well short on the day.   

Earlier, electing to bat, Ireland got off to a brisk start. Following a decent showing from openers Paul Stirling (22 off 16) and Andrew Balbirnie (25 off 22), right-handed batter Delany went absolutely belligerent as he smashed a total of eight sixes and three boundaries during his 50-ball carnage.

Bangladesh missed the services of regular skipper Mahmudullah Riyad as he was rested for this game due to slight back pain. Bangladesh were also without their premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is still to join the Tigers as he is currently fulfilling his IPL commitment for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Bangladesh will face Scotland in their T20 World Cup opener on October 17. And with two of their main players -- Shakib and Mahmudullah -- expected to be back for that game, Bangladesh would hope to shrug off the two defeats in the official practise games and put up a more inspiring showing in the T20 extravaganza.