Mortaza blitz too hot for Irish

Mashrafe Mortaza's early blitz saw Bangladesh comfortably win the opening game of their tour of Ireland. They defeated an Ireland XI by seven wickets at Comber, chasing down 103 with more than five overs to spare.

Mortaza took 3 for 14, with the wickets of Andrew Balbirnie and Andrew Poynter coming in the first over, and Ireland were 10 for 3 as Mortaza took his third wicket. The Ireland XI never recovered from such a terrible start. Andrew White, the Ireland XI captain, managed to stay at the crease for 25 balls, making 16, but he and Stuart Thompson went quickly as the side slumped to 58 for 6 with fewer than five overs remaining.

Nigel Jones managed to save Irish blushes by striking three sixes in a 26-ball 41 as he and Rory McCann shared 45 but the total was well below being competitive.

Thompson did find two early wickets but Shakib Al Hasan's unbeaten 37 at a run-a-ball guided the chase and Bangladesh captain Mushifiqur Rahim blasted 40 in 25 balls to get the tourists to the line.