Wolves are still in hunt for first win but just one chance remains

IRELAND Wolves have one more game to break their duck on the tour to Bangladesh after coming up just short in yesterday’s Twenty20 clash in Cox’s Bazaar.

Despite the Wolves posting a competitive 170 for seven, Bangladesh A were hurtling to victory having reached 106 for three at halfway. But spinners Simi Singh, Andy McBrine and Jacob Mulder restricted their hosts to 57 in the next nine overs, leaving Bangladesh A needing eight from the last.

Peter Chase, who had taken a wicket and conceded just four runs in the 18th over, could not do the same again, and two boundaries from the first four balls won the match by four wickets.

Andrew Balbirnie again led from the front, dominating the second wicket stand of 51 with Stuart Thompson, all inside the powerplay, and then 65 for the fourth wicket with Sean Terry, who scored at a run a ball.

The captain was fourth out for 83 from 51 balls with seven fours and four sixes, but 42 from the remaining 33 balls — which thanks to McBrine and Barry McCarthy included 18 from the last two overs — was not enough in the shortest format.

James Shannon was bowled by the first ball of the match after the Wolves had been put into bat, while John Anderson (5), Simi Singh (6) and Stuart Poynter (4) were the other batsmen dismissed for single figures.

The tour ends today with a 50over game and a last chance for the players to stake a claim for a place in next year’s World Cup qualifying squad.

Scores: Ireland Wolves 170-7 (20 overs, A Balbirnie 83, S Terry 28, S Thompson 13, A McBrine 12 not out; Imran Ali 3-33) Bangladesh A 172-6 (19.4 overs, Al-Amin 67, Nazmul Hossain 47; A McBrine 4-0-30-1, P Chase 3.4-0-35-1, B McCarthy 3-0-32-2, J Mulder 3-0-32-0, S Thompson 2-0-16-1, S Singh 4-0-24-1) Bangladesh A won by 4 wickets.