On Saturday (November 29), Bangladesh won the second Twenty20 International and pulled back in the series thanks to a vital half-century in the run chase from captain Litton Das. Bangladesh was coasting at one point, chasing 171 for win, and Litton appeared to be in excellent form. After he was removed, Ireland had a chance to rally, but the host team remained composed and finished their third-highest successful T20I chase with two balls remaining.
After deciding to bat, Tim Tector and Paul Stirling scored 27 runs from the first two overs, giving Ireland a strong start. After that, Stirling dismissed Mohammad Saifuddin for 16 in his first over. However, Tim kept having fun while Ireland set the tone with a 75-point powerplay. From that point on, the visitors should have aimed for 200, but Bangladesh was able to mount a comeback.
In the same over, Mahedi Hasan pegged back the opposition by removing Harry Tector after taking the vital wicket of Tim. After reducing Ireland to 103/4, he finished with outstanding figures of 3/25 after striking once more in his penultimate over. Because of this, Bangladesh was able to slip in some quiet overs while Ireland was having trouble getting going. They were ultimately limited to finishing with 170 on the board after Lorcan Tucker scored 41.
Bangladesh was now clear favourites, needing just 42 from the last five overs after Litton Das hit the slogsweep for another six to reach his fifty.
In response, Bangladesh also had a successful start under Parvez Hossain. The hosts were 66/1 by the end of the sixth over as Litton Das and Parvez combined to smash 18 in the last over of the powerplay, despite Tanzid Hasan’s inability to get going. Parvez was eventually dismissed by a reverse sweep at the midway point, and Bangladesh may have lost Litton as well in the next over if it hadn’t been for a lucky break. Gareth Delaney grabbed the captain close to the boundary, but the towel behind him flicked the cushion.
Saif Hassan cleared the ropes right down the ground after Litton hit Delaney for a boundary in the very next over, further aggravating them. But Ireland’s prospects were greatly increased when both set batters left within four deliveries. Saifuddin hit a couple of fours and a six to ease the jitters as Bangladesh finished the job in a nervy fashion. Ireland looked to have a genuine opportunity when a run out put Bangladesh farther behind.
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