Shafiul swings it for Bangladesh

In his post-match interview, moments after victory, Shafiul Islam assumed he was being presented with the Man of the Match award. That honour, as it happens, fell to Tamim Iqbal, but Shafiul's performance was barely less influential. On a deathly slow deck on which spin had appeared to be the only viable weapon, Shafiul popped up with a scorching spell of reverse-swing bowling that left Ireland's tailenders with no place to hide.

It was a low-scoring tussle at Mirpur, in which wickets were the only way for Bangladesh to live up to the expectations of their fervent home support, after their batsmen had capitulated to 205 all out. By returning the figures of 4 for 21 in eight overs, the best by a Bangladeshi paceman in World Cup history, Shafiul fulfilled that requirement to the letter.

His new-ball spell lasted all of one over, and featured a lusty square drive from Ireland's opener, Will Porterfield. He briefly returned to test the water in the 17th over, but it wasn't until the mandatory ball change in the closing stages of the game that he returned with a vengeance and set about cramping Ireland's style.

In his first over back, he might have removed Kevin O'Brien lbw, but the not-out decision stayed with the onfield umpire - but only just. Suitable emboldened, he set about attacking the crease with gusto, and tempted O'Brien into a loose pull to deep square leg. It was the opening he and his team required, and thereafter he was unplayable.

Andre Botha played all round a full-length delivery that crashed into his leg stump, before Trent Johnston was pinned lbw for 6. Surfing the crowd's delirium and zipping the ball at pace, he then applied the coup de grace as Boyd Rankin chipped to short midwicket. Bangladesh's World Cup campaign is up and running. Ireland's, despite their best endeavours, must start all over again.