Curtis Campher, Paul Stirling guide Ireland to victory against Bangladesh XI in warm-up game

SYLHET, Bangladesh – Half-centuries to Curtis Campher and Paul Stirling, followed by a proficient bowling display, saw Ireland Men get their tour of Bangladesh off to a winning start over the Bangladesh XI in today’s warm-up match.

Stirling’s 54 from 50 balls was a typical domineering display from the hard-hitting opener and featured as part of a 53-run opening stand with Stephen Doheny (30).

Ireland then stuttered, slipping from 106-1 to 135-5 before Campher began to assert his authority. The all-rounder struck 75* from just 50 balls – an innings that included four sixes and seven boundaries. He also played arguably the shot of the day with a beautifully-timed reverse scoop for six off Rejaur Rahman Raja, as part of a punishing over which saw Campher strike 6, 4, 4, 6 off the first four balls of the 38^th over.

After Gareth Delany chimed in with a quickfire 36 from 24 balls, Ireland finished on 255-7 from their rain-reduced 40 overs.

With a DLS-adjusted 40-over target of 259 confirmed, Bangladesh Cricket Board XI started well and were 79-1 in the 14^th over before Andy McBrine (3-12) picked up his first wicket of the day. This initiated a mini collapse of 4-16 in the next four overs with McBrine bowling an exceptional line to the Bangladeshi batters, forcing them to hit out to their ultimate peril.

In all, nine bowlers were used by skipper Andrew Balbirnie as he sought to give as many of his bowling unit some time with the ball in hand.

When Fionn Hand eventually removed the final batter with the first ball of the 33^rd over, the home side had succumbed to 181 all out.

Ireland Men next face Bangladesh Men in the first ODI on Saturday starting at 2pm local time (8am Ireland time).

MATCH SUMMARY

BCB XI v Ireland Men, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, 15 March 2023

Ireland 255-7 (40 overs; C Campher 75*, P Stirling 54; R Hossain 2-50)

BCB XI 181 (32.1 overs; S Sarkar 48; A McBrine 3-12, M Adair 2-36)

Ireland won by 77 runs (DLS)