Mortaza leads Bangladesh clean sweep

Belfast: Mashrafe Mortaza produced a fine allround display as Bangladesh completed a 3-0 Twenty20 series sweep of Ireland with a dramatic last-ball victory at Stormont on Saturday.

The fast-medium bowler took 19 for 4 as Ireland, who made a good start, were restricted to 140 in their 20 overs. And he then struck 30 off just 13 balls with four sixes as Bangladesh won by two wickets. Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful put on 62 in 9.2 overs before the latter fell for 24.

But Iqbal swiftly followed and a flurry of wickets, as Paul Stirling took 21 for 3 and Ziaur Rehman was run out without facing, left the Tigers in trouble on 87 for 6. However, Mortaza revived the innings before falling to Kevin O'Brien, who fumbled the last of his sixes over the rope. Mushfiqur Rahim's dismissal in the last over set up a nail-biting finish but Elias Sunny saw Bangladesh home off the last ball.

Mortaza took 19 for 4 and then struck 30 off just 13 balls with four sixes as Bangladesh won by two wickets.

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