The third and final One Day International (ODI) match between Bangladesh and Ireland was held on March 21, 2023, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. Both teams had won one match each in the series and were looking to clinch the series with a victory in this match.
23 MARCH 2023
TIME: 04:00 AM ET
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first, opening with Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das. Bangladesh got off to a flying start, with both openers scoring freely and dispatching the Irish bowlers to all parts of the ground. Tamim Iqbal played an aggressive knock of 87 runs off 73 balls, while Liton Das scored 65 off 62 balls, giving Bangladesh a solid foundation.
The middle-order of Bangladesh, however, failed to capitalize on the good start, and wickets kept falling at regular intervals. The only batsman who provided some resistance was Shakib Al Hasan, who scored a gritty 47 off 65 balls. The Bangladesh innings ended on 241 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 50 overs. For Ireland, Mark Adair was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 45 runs in his 10 overs.
In response, Ireland got off to a shaky start, losing their first three wickets for just 36 runs on the board. The Bangladesh bowlers were in top form and didn’t allow the Irish batsmen to settle down. However, the fourth-wicket partnership between Harry Tector and William Porterfield steadied the ship for Ireland, and they started to build a partnership.
Tector played a brilliant knock of 82 runs off 98 balls, while Porterfield scored 56 off 74 balls. However, once the partnership was broken, the Irish innings started to crumble. The Bangladesh bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals, and Ireland was eventually bowled out for 220 runs in 48.5 overs, falling short by 21 runs.
For Bangladesh, the spin duo of Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan were the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets each. Mustafizur Rahman also chipped in with two wickets. This victory not only gave Bangladesh the series win but also boosted their confidence ahead of the upcoming T20 series against Ireland.
In conclusion, Bangladesh’s victory in the third ODI against Ireland was a result of a solid batting performance by the openers and a disciplined bowling effort. While the middle-order collapse was a concern, the team would take heart from the fact that they managed to post a competitive.