Ireland must step up against Bangladesh

Dublin: Bangladesh’s rise as a One-Day International team has been one of the stories in world cricket in recent years. The ICC Champions Trophy is another wonderful opportunity for the team to prove just how much it has progressed.

It completed a training camp in Sussex, and will try to finetune its preparations even more in the triangular series involving Ireland and New Zealand, which gets underway at Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin on Friday (May 12) with the fixture between the home side and Bangladesh.

While Bangladesh has been on the rise, Ireland hasn’t had too good a time. After beating West Indies in its opening game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, it has been on a losing spree.

It has lost bilateral encounters against Australia (twice), Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa, Afghanistan and England. To put things in context, Ireland has only beaten United Arab Emirates and drawn one series against Afghanistan in this period.

Ireland’s recent 2-0 loss in England was down to poor batting at crucial times. In the first match in Bristol, it failed to read Adil Rashid’s leg-spin and were bowled out for 126 in 33 overs. England chased down the target in 20 overs for the loss of just three wickets.

Then, at Lord’s, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow scored 70s, and chasing 329, Ireland was dismissed for 243 in 46.1 overs as only William Porterfield did well, scoring 82.

Porterfield has been vocal about the need to step up on the big stage to make sure that Ireland doesn’t waste its opportunities. And the tri-series offers it a chance to make another impact as the possibility of Ireland achieving Test status comes closer.

Teams from

Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Andy Balbirnie, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson (wk), Craig Young.

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Subashis Roy, Sunzamul Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.

Weather and conditions
There's some chance of rain in the Malahide area which may influence the side winning the toss.

Stats and trivia
Kevin O'Brien needs three wickets to become the first Ireland bowler to claim 100 in ODIs.

Match facts
Friday May 12, 2017
Start time 10.45am local (0945 GMT)