Ireland beat Bangladesh by 74 runs, redeem pride

Ireland redeemed some of their lost pride with a comprehensive 74-run victory over Bangladesh in a Super Eights league match of the World Cup at Kensington Oval here.

The debutants played exceedingly well against a team that had silenced more than one top gun in the showpiece event. After putting up 243 for seven in 50 overs -- their highest score in the World Cup -- Ireland, a team mostly of amateurs, bundled out Bangladesh for 169 in 41.2 overs thus earning their first points in the Super Eights.

The defeat also snuffed out any hopes whatsoever Bangladesh might have had of making it into the last four.

Irish captain Trent Johnston's ploy of batting first after winning the toss paid dividends. By using the bouncy wicket first, he denied the Bangladesh spin trio of any possible success in the afternoon.

''I personally needed this win very much. We were having a dream run and except the Australia match we were not doing too badly although we are not winning. This win will give the folks back home a lot to celebrate,'' said Johnston later.

Brimming with joy and emotions after the win, the Irish players took a lap of honour with their South African coach Andrew Birrell taking the national flag from fans who came all the way for this moment.

''We are really very happy and this win mattered very much to all of us. We can go home with our head high,'' added Johnston.

Bangladesh were trapped by Johnston within the first ten overs despite the fact that his strike bowler Boyd Rankin was struggling to control his pace and line.

Rankin, however, gave Ireland the first wicket in the form of Shariar Nafees and Andrew Botha, returning to the team after an injury, picked up two quick wickets to seal the fate of Bangladesh.

Botha dismissed Aftbab Ahmed with his very first ball and then with some luck ran out Saqibul Hasan.

Bangladesh never recovered from the early damage and Johnston marshalled his bowling resources with great depth and picked up Bangla wickets at regular intervals.

Mohammed Ashraful did show some promise, giving a glimpse of his now famous innings against South Africa, to revive the hope for some time but once again Johnston was better prepared.

The Irish captain brought back massively-built Rankin, the tallest player in the World Cup, and allowed him the liberty of banging in the ball short. Ashraful, a compulsive hooker, went for the trap and Langford-Smith made no mistake to pick up the catch at deep square leg leaving Bangladesh at 108 for five and a mountain to climb.

Bangladesh were a pale shadow of their great form which saw them beat South Africa and India, and except for occasional shows of brilliance, the famous tiger spirit was nowhere to be seen.

Habibur Bashar, the diminutive captain of Bangladesh put up some resistance and scored a defiant 30 but Johnston broke his defence and bowled him comprehensively.

Ireland completed the task in the 42nd over and took home the stumps as souvenir realising well that this might be their only consolation win of the World Cup amid the big boys.

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