Tigers beat Ireland by 22 runs in T20I opener

Bangladesh beat Ireland by 22 runs in the rain-affected first T20 in Chattogram Sunday.

Under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, Ireland's target was revised to 104 runs in eight overs, but they could only manage to score 81 for five wickets, with Taskin Ahmed registering a career-best 4-16.

Ireland, who scored 18 and 14 runs off the first two overs bowled by Nasum Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman respectively, lost their first wicket in the third over when Hasan Mahmud removed Ross Adair for 13.

Taskin struck thrice in the next over, ripping through Ireland's middle order.

Earlier, the match was interrupted by rain when Bangladesh had scored 207 for 5 in 19.2 overs, the highest T20I total in Chattogram.

After an hour and 23 minutes of delay because of rain, the pitch covers were removed. But it started raining again within three minutes.

After another 40-minute delay, the match restarted with a revised target for Ireland.

Earlier, put in to bat first Bangladesh reached 100 runs in just nine overs. Litton Das scored 47 off 23 deliveries before being caught by Harry Tector off Craig Young in the eighth over.

Rony Talukdar scored 67 off just 38 balls before being dismissed by Graham Hume in the 14th over.

Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shamim Hossain scored 14 and 30 runs, respectively. Towhid Hridoy scored a quickfire 13 off just eight balls.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan remained unbeaten on 20 off 13 balls. Craig Young was the most successful bowler for Ireland, taking two wickets.

The next two matches of the series will be played on March 29 and 31.