Jacob Mulder took three wickets but it wasn’t enough to prevent Ireland Wolves from defeat by Bangladesh in their one-day clash in Cox’s Bazar.
The CIYMS leg-spinner took 3 for 42, supported by George Dockrell (2-41) and Simi Singh (1-22) as Bangladesh were put in a spin, faltering to 114 for 6 as they chased 196 for victory.
However the absence of fourth spinner Andy McBrine – one of five changes to the Irish line-up – proved crucial as Tanvir Haider hit an unbeaten half century to seal a three-wicket win.
Haider struck 8 boundaries in a Player-of-the-Match display, shepherding the lower order as he made 61 of the 82 runs needed to get the hosts over the line for the loss of only one further wicket.
The Irish were left to rue a below par batting display as they squandered strong positions, with a succession of the top order getting starts but failing to capitalise.
James Shannon and John Anderson both scored 27 in a second wicket stand of 42, while top scorer Simi Singh (33) and Stuart Poynter (25) added 46 for the 5th wicket.
Singh’s dismissal was the catalyst for a weak finish to the innings, as the Irish went from 136 for 4 in the 33rd to 195 all out with 11 balls unused.
That collapse was to prove crucial in the final analysis – a fact acknowledged by skipper Andrew Balbirnie afterwards.
“As a batting unit it’s disappointing that we all got starts without getting a meaningful score.
“We fought hard with the ball and in the field. Jacob Mulder did very well bowling his 10 overs straight and he was well supported by George Dockrell but unfortunately we couldn’t create the couple of chances we needed.
“In what is a testing tour, I’m delighted how everyone is turning up looking to improve each day and hopefully we are raring to go come Saturday.”
Ireland will be looking to level the series when the teams meet again in the third match which gets under way on Saturday (4am).
Bangladesh A v Ireland Wolves, Second One-Dayer,
At Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh A beat Ireland Wolves by 3 wickets
Ireland Wolves 195 all out (48.1 overs; Simi Singh 33, James Shannon 27, John Anderson 27, Stuart Poynter 25; Sanzamul Islam 4-33, Abul Hasan 3-25)
Bangladesh A 196/7 46.3 overs (Tanvir Haider 61*, Nazmul Hossain 44; Jacob Mulder 3-42, George Dockrell 2-41)