Rain halts play in Ireland

Rain has just started coming down even harder and the Umpires are calling for the covers. It was really only going to be a matter of time as the clouds had steadily got darker and darker.

There is quite a strong breeze across the ground, reports ESPNcricinfo.

Opener Tamim Iqbal (64 off 88b; 8x4) and Mahmudullah Riyad (43 off 56b; 4x4; 1x6) were on batting in the 5th stand after the departure of the Tigers stand in captain Shakib Al Hasan (14 off 16b; 2x4) in 70/4 in 14.5 overs.

Bangladesh lost four top-order batsmen to collect 157 runs in 31 overs against Ireland in the Tri-nation Series opener at Malahide in Dublin on Friday.

Shakib was caught by Niall O'Brien off Peter Chase who captured three wickets for 33 runs in six overs for the host side.

Bangladesh's dependable and experienced batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (13 off 17b; 3x4) was departed from crease at 47/3 in 11.1 overs, after sharing a 38-run stand in 7.5 overs in the 3rd wicket with Tamim. Mushfiqur was caught by Gary Wilson off Barry McCarthy's bowling.

Bangladesh suffered the early jolt losing two quick wickets - Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman - at 9/2 in 3.2 overs.

The Tigers lost their first wicket when Soumya Sarkar (5 off 7b; 1x4) departed on 8/1 in 1.5 overs.

After Soumya, Sabbir came at crease to pair Tamim, but left with duck facing 3 balls.

Soumya was the first victim, caught by NJ O'Brien off Peter Chase bowling while Sabbir was caught by Tim Murtagh also off a Chase's bowling.

Besides, Chase's three-for, BJ McCarthy took one for 15 runs in three overs for the side elected to bowl first.

Teams

Ireland: W Porterfield (capt), P Stirling, A Balbirnie, P Chase, G Dockrell, T Murtagh, B McCarthy, K O'Brien, N O'Brien, S Thompson, G Wilson

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mehedi Hasan

Umpires: Mark Hawthorne (IRL), Ian Gould (ENG)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Source: dailysun