Ireland host Bangladesh in final Super League contest as South Africa watch on
Cricket
Ireland need series whitewash to secure direct qualification for World Cup at South Africa's expense
CHELMSFORD (Web Desk) - Bangladesh and Ireland played their first ODI series in thirteen years in March. They are now playing another starting Tuesday. This one is far more important for the hosts as the three-match ODI series in Chelmsford is the last chapter of the ICC's ODI Super League. The result of this series will directly affect a third country: South Africa. Ireland were thumped 2-0 in the previous ODI series between the sides in Sylhet, but Chelmsford is vastly different. The visitors, although in good form, will only have one day to train at the ground to figure out the conditions.
South Africa will be watching
Ireland have a big task on their hands during this ODI series. They have to beat Bangladesh 3-0 and one of those wins have to be by a big margin. Ireland are 30 points and 0.305 runs per over in net run rate behind South Africa, who are in eighth place in the points table. Ireland are in eleventh place so if they have a great series, their first whitewash against Bangladesh, a World Cup place will be theirs.
South Africa will however be hoping that that isn't the case and would certainly be backing Bangladesh, the team who beat them 2-1 in March 2022 in their backyard. Bangladesh have already qualified, and winning the series will take them to second (3-0) or third (2-1) spot in the points table. They are currently in fourth position but a strong finish in the points table is what captain Tamim Iqbal had desired at the start of the ICC ODI Super League.
Ireland return from the subcontinent
Josh Little's return from the IPL is good news for the home side. The addition of Craig Young will also bolster their pace attack as Ireland try to bounce back from a long and tough tour of the subcontinent. They lost both ODI and T20I series in Bangladesh, as well as the two Tests against Sri Lanka. But they will be happy about some individual performances.
Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker and Paul Stirling struck Test centuries while Harry Tector's three fifties made him Ireland's highest scorer on their tour of the subcontinent. Andy McBrine had a stellar Test match in Dhaka when he took a six-for, Ireland's best bowling show in the two tours, apart from a fighting half-century.
Graham Hume was the surprise package in the bowling department, particularly in the white-ball matches in Bangladesh. In trying conditions and flat batting pitches, Hume was their best performer, including taking a four-wicket haul. Ireland would however want contributions from their captain Andrew Balbirnie and some clarity on George Dockrell's role.
A different challenge for Bangladesh
The visitors have struggled to regularly train at the Fenners ground in Cambridge due to rain. Their practice match was also abandoned due to rain. Away in Chelmsford, there was no training for either side in the lead-up to the series as there was a County Championship match ongoing till May 7. The only time they will get a look at the main venue will be on the eve of the match.
Tamim is leading a well-oiled machine. Bangladesh's only glitch recently was losing to world champions England in a home ODI series in early March. They beat India late last year, having already made it to the World Cup directly. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim have been Tamim's most important performers, while Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have contributed heavily too. Taskin is missing out due to an injury, but the rest are in this squad.
Bangladesh's scoring rate has also stood out recently. They went at 6.61 runs per over against Ireland, their all-time highest in an ODI series . It is a continuation of their progressive scoring rate that they have developed, partly through their T20I exploits, in the last 12 months. Mushfiqur has recently scored Bangladesh's fastest ODI century, while newcomers like Towhid Hridoy have also adopted the rapid scoring policy.
ODIs return to Chelmsford
This will be the first ODI at the county ground in Chelmsford in 24 years. Two of the three ODIs it has hosted were played during the 1999 World Cup. Bangladesh played one of those matches, their first ever World Cup match, against New Zealand. Of course none of those players, coaches or officials are part of this team now, but there's some knowledge available about the ground.
Chelmsford is one of the smallest grounds in the county circuit but the pitches can be bowler-friendly. Swing and seam are generally the main threat but offspinner Simon Harmer has been unplayable at times too. High-class spin will make an impact. At the same time, six of the last eight one-day matches here featured 300-plus first-innings totals. If the rain stays away, it promises to be an interesting contest.
Tamim: 'We have two or three players for No. 7 role'
Batting deep in these conditions will be an important aspect. Bangladesh have however gone the other direction in recent matches, as they have looked to bolster their bowling attacks in white-ball cricket. Mehidy's batting improvement has meant he can occupy the No 7 spot although in situations when they need extra batters, they will look for a big hitter at that position. Tamim said two days before the first ODI that they are interested in playing an extra bowler, but understands the importance of a good contribution from the No 7.
"No 7 is a very important position," he said. "It is also an under-appreciated position. A 25-run innings is sometimes equal to fifty at No 7. It is a thankless spot, but it is very important. We have two or three players in that position. [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz has shown the capability of batting well. He single-handedly won the series against India with his batting.
"If he bats at No 7, we can play an extra bowler. We will look at these combinations in this and probably the next series too. Six bowlers is a lot of options. But five bowlers means that if someone has a bad day, you are stuck as a captain and team."
