Opener Rony Talukdar hammered his maiden half-century as Bangladesh started the three-match T20 International series against Ireland in emphatic fashion, recording a 22-run victory through DLS method at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here today.
Rony smoked 67 off 38, smashing seven fours and three sixes to steer Bangladesh to 207-5 before rain halted the progress with four balls off the innings remaining.
The visitors were able to put up 81-5 as their revised target was set for 104 in eight overs.
The score was Bangladesh's third highest total behind 215-5 against Sri Lanka and 211-4 against West Indies.
However, the Tigers had rewritten a record, putting up 81 runs in the first six overs. It was their highest power-play total, eclipsing 74 against Sri Lanka during their highest total of 215-5 in 2018.
They scored those 81 runs without losing any wicket as the openers Rony Talukdar and Liton Das came down heavily on the Irish bowlers after their stand in captain Paul Stirling put Bangladesh into bat first.
Liton Das struck 47 off 23, an innings laced with four fours and three sixes. Shamim Patwari chipped-in-with 20 ball-30.
Paceman Craig Young who claimed 2-45 to be top wicket-taker for Ireland, broke through with the wicket of Liton in the eighth over as he approached his 10th half-century.
Rony however didn't miss as he slashed leg spinner Ben White for a boundary through extra-cover to bring up his fifty off just 24 deliveries.
Harry Tector got rid of inform Najmul Hossain Shanto for 14 and then fast bowler Graham Hume baffled Rony with a slower off cutter.
The two dismissals in quick succession stalled Bangladesh's progress to a bit.
Shamim Patwari and skipper Shakib Al Hasan injected some spark as the side went past 200 runs for the fourth time in their T20 history.
Before the rain arrived, Shakib was batting on 20 off 13 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 4.
Paul Stirling who is leading the side in T20 series after regular skipper Andrew Balbirnie was rested and Ross Adair scored 18 runs in the first over of left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed to give the side a ray of hope.
But pacer Hasan Mahmud rattled the stump of Adair (13) with a yorker and then fast bowler Taskin Ahmed took the game literally away with three wickets in his first over.
He started with Stirling who made 17 and then dismissed Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell.
Taskin then came back to get rid of Harry Tector to finish with his career-best 4-16. Gareth Delany who scored team-best 21 not out just reduced the margin.
The second match is on Wednesday.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha