Mirpur (Bangladesh): Bangladesh were let down by a shoddy batting performance as a disciplined Ireland skittled them out for 205 in a Group B match of the cricket World Cup here on Friday.
Electing to bat, Bangladesh's batsmen failed to build partnerships with Tamim Iqbal (44), Mushfiqur Rahim (36) and Raqibul Hasan (38) being the only noteworthy contributers to the total.
To Bangladesh's embarrassment, the team did not even last the full 50 overs and folded up in 49.2 overs.
The Irish had got the better of Bangladesh even in the previous edition of the World Cup and had the upperhand for most of the first half of the crunch game a loss in which would severly jeopardise the co-hosts' chances of advancing to the quarterfinals.
It was a fantastic start to the proceedings for the hosts after winning the toss as they raced to their 50 in just 5.4 overs.
But the slide was not too far either and it started with opener Imrul Kayes (12) being sent back by pacer John Mooney in the seventh over.
Next man in, Junaid Siddique, didn't last long either and was run out by Ed Joyce after contributing just three runs to the total.
Three overs after Siddique's dismissal, Bangladesh were dealt a massive blow when Tamim was dismissed by Andre Botha.
After striking seven boundaries in his 43-ball knock, Tamim drove Botha outside off stump only to be caught by Irish skipper William Porterfield at point, leaving the packed crowd stunned in silence.
With skipper Shakib Al Hasan also making a hasty exit after contributing 16 runs, Bangladesh were in dire straits at 86/4 in just the 16th over.
But Rahim and Raqibul got together to put on 61 runs for the fifth wicket and steady the rocking boat, albeit temporarily.
Their partnership was broken when Rahim's attempted sweep off 18-year-old spinner George Dockrell landed straight into the hands of Andrew White.
His dismissal triggered another collapse with senior batsman and former captain Mohammad Ashraful (1), who was brought back into the side to strengthen the faltering line-up, coming a cropper lasting just one over.
Given the top-order collapse, the tail could not do much either save for Naeem Islam, who added 29 vital runs to the score including three boundaries.
For Ireland, Botha picked up three wickets, conceding just 32 runs in his nine runs, while Dockrell clinched a couple of scalps in his 10 overs during which he gave only 23 runs.