Porterfield Humbles Bangla Tigers

Fresh from their heroics on English soil, the young and spurred Bangladeshi boys came in for a blow, straight at their face. Rookie Ireland team got to a easy seven wicket win against Mortaza’s boys. In the 1st ODI at Belfast of the 2 match series, Ireland cruised to an easy 7 wicket win, resting on the heroics of skipper William Porterfield and Boyd Rankin.

Winning the toss and electing to field first, Irish bowlers ensured that the Bangla boys were never in their comfort zone. The do-or- die attitude of the Bangladeshi opening pair went in vain. In the chilly and windy conditions of Belfast that assisted seamers, Bangladeshi openers made the mistake of being too swashbuckling and by the third over both were shown the way out as Bangladesh found itself tottering at two wickets down with just 15 runs on the board.

With three wickets down for just 28, it was upon 22 year old Junaid Siddique and former skipper Shakib Al Hasan, to retain some respect in the Bangladesh camp. Junaid’s 123 ball ton was ably assisted by Shakib’s 78 ball 50. The duo set up a 107 run stand for the fourth wicket. Approaching the dire situation in a cautious manner, the duo took 153 deliveries for their 107 run stand, and at end of the 31st over took Bangladesh to a respectable 135. But twin attacks from Rankin and Johnston stopped the Bangaledsh score at 234 and ensured it ticked no further. Boyd Rankin emerged the star bowler with three scalps for 43 runs in his ten over quota.

Bangladesh’s bowling also didn’t get off to any good start, as openers Porterfield and Stirling smashed Bangladeshi bowlers all over the ground. By the time the dangerous Stirling was removed by Abdur Razzak, it was too late as Ireland had put up 118 runs on the board in just 20 overs. Skipper Porterfield continued the good work with Cussack as his aide as they piled another 90 run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Twenty five year old Porterfield went on to score his 5th century as he piled up 108 off 116 balls. Cussack went on to ensure that there would be no further collapse as he played till the end, scoring a patient 45 from 77 deliveries.

Ireland cruised to a comfortable victory with seven wickets and thirty balls remaining. The ease with which Ireland achieved the target seemed a bit too harsh for Junaid’s and Shakib’s efforts. Bangladesh’s score was a competitive one, but Ireland’s domination with the bat, especially by skipper and man of the match William Porterfield ensured that Bangladesh were nowhere near contention.

By: Soubhik Ray