Irish eyes are smiling as they enter Super 8

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Monday Irish eyes were smiling when they sent Bangladesh packing home easily beating them by six wickets in their Group A match at Trent Bridge to enter the Super Eight Group here on Monday.

Restricting Bangladesh to 137 for 8 in 20 overs, Ireland strolled to victory getting 138 for in 18.2 overs. It was a sad exit for the Bangladeshis who came here with great expectations.

It was the lacklustre batting that caused the Bangladeshis to capitulate.

When the Irish began their bid for victory, they lost an early wicket. Then opener Nial O’ Brien and one drop William Porterfield added 50 in 32 balls for the second wicket and put them on the victory trail. Nial O’ Brien made 40 in 25 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes.

After they lost two more wickets, Kevin brother of Nial and John Mooney got together to take them to victory without further loss. Mooney was 17 not out with 2 fours in 14 and Kevin made quick 39 in 17 with 4 fours and two sixes finishing the match with a huge six to have the Irish smiling.

A last over blast of 20 runs by Bangladeshi paceman Mushrafe Mortaza took Bangladesh to a score of 137 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.

Ireland won the toss and chose to field and got the first breakthrough when they had opener J. Siddique at 13. Skipper Mohammad Ashraful walked in with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and, did not oblige. He was dropped at one, but failed to capitalise on it and was next to go for 14.

Trent Johnson who was bowling a tight length then accounted for Al Hassan for 7 and the Bangladesh scoreboard was looking a sorry sight, until Mortaza put his big hitting act on show. His side’s total was a paltry 107 for seven when he delivered. He hit Causack for 1 four and 2 big sixes to remain unbeaten on 33 made in 15 balls.

Right arm paceman Trent Johnson who had the first three wickets bowled best and conceded just 20 runs in his 4 fours.

Trent Bridge, Nottingham

BANGLADESH

Tamim Iqbal run out				22
Junaid Siddique c Bray b Johnston		13
Mohammad Ashraful c K. O’Brien b Johnston	14
Shakib Al Hasan c Wilson b Johnston		 7
Mohammad Mahmudullah st N. O’Brien b Cusack	 7
Raqibul Hasan b McCallan			13
Musfiqur Rahim c Mooney b West			14
Mashrafe Mortaza not out			33
Naeem Islam b Rankin				 7
Abdur Razzak not out			 	 0

Extras: (lb1, w6)				 7
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs)			137
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Junaid), 2-40 (Ashraful), 3-50 (Shakib), 4-61 (Tamim),
	 5-66 (Mahmudullah), 6-90 (Raqibul), 7-94 (Rahim), 8-117 (Naeem).
Bowling: Rankin 4-0-36-1, Johnston 4-0-20-3 (w1), West 4-0-25-1, McCallan 4-0-17-1, Cusack 4-0-38-1 (w5)

IRELAND
J. Bray  c Raqib b Mortaza			 3
W. Porterfield c and b Razzak			23
N. O’Brien c Rubel b Shakib			40
G. Wilson c Ashraful b Mortaza			10
J. Mooney not out				16
K. O’Brien not out				39
Extras:(lb4, w3)				 7
Total (for 4 wkts,18.2 overs)			138
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Bray), 2-61 (N. O’Brien), 3-71 (Porterfield), 4-89 (Wilson). 
Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-30-2, Rubel 3.2-0-31-0 (w3), Mahmudullah 3-0-23-0,
	 Naeem 2-0-9-0, Shakib 3-0-23-1, Razzak 3-0-18-1.