Hey cricket fans, if you’re anything like me, there’s nothing quite like a T20 thriller to spice up a weekend. The second T20I between Bangladesh and Ireland in Chattogram on November 29, 2025, delivered just that—edge-of-your-seat drama under the lights at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. With the series locked at 1-1 after Ireland’s stunning chase in the opener, both sides came out swinging, desperate to grab the lead. Let’s dive into how it all unfolded, from the toss to the final ball, and why this match might just linger in our memories for a while.
Toss and Team Changes: Setting the Stage
Ireland’s captain, Paul Stirling, called heads at the toss and won it—a big relief after losing the first one. Without hesitation, he opted to bat first, citing the dew factor that often turns chases into cakewalks in Chattogram. “The pitch looks a belter, and we’d rather set a total than chase in the wet,” Stirling quipped post-toss, his eyes already on building momentum.
A smart swap for the Irish: Curtis Campher, who struggled with the ball in the series opener, made way for the promising all-rounder, Liam McCarthy. No changes from Bangladesh’s side, though—their lineup looked rock-solid after that gritty win in the first game.
Ireland’s Playing XI: Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher (wait, no—scratch that, McCarthy steps in), Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Craig Young, and Ben White.
Bangladesh’s Playing XI: Litton Das (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam.
The crowd, a sea of green and orange, buzzed with anticipation. Bangladesh, playing at home, needed to defend their pride; Ireland, the underdogs, smelled an upset.
Ireland’s Innings: A Rocky Start Turns into a Power-Packed Recovery
Right from the get-go, things looked dicey for the visitors. Taskin Ahmed, Bangladesh’s spearhead, struck gold in his opening over, clean-bowling Stirling for a duck with a peach of an inswinger that nipped back just enough. One down for zilch—talk about a wake-up call. Balbirnie joined Tector at the crease, but the pressure mounted as Mustafizur Rahman joined the party, snaring Balbirnie with a cutter that gripped the surface (12 off 10).
Enter the middle-order cavalry. Harry Tector, ever the cool customer, anchored the ship with a masterful 67 off 42 balls—full of those trademark lofts over cover and whips through midwicket. George Dockrell played the perfect foil, racing to 45 in just 28 deliveries, his pull shots echoing like thunderclaps. By the 10-over mark, Ireland had clawed back to 85/3, and the required rate suddenly felt like a distant memory.
But T20s love a twist, don’t they? Rishad Hossain, the leg-spin wizard, pulled off a stunner—trapping Tector lbw with a googly that turned square. Ireland wobbled at 112/5 after 14 overs, but Dockrell and Adair (28* off 15) steadied the nerves. Adair’s six over long-on off Mahedi Hasan? Pure vintage T20 fireworks.
In the end, Ireland posted 179/7 in 20 overs. A defendable total? Absolutely, especially with dew greasing the ball later. Tector earned Player of the Match nods for his knock, but it was the partnerships that stole the show.
- Top Scorers for Ireland: Harry Tector (67), George Dockrell (45), Mark Adair (28*)
- Key Bowlers for Bangladesh: Taskin Ahmed (2/28), Mustafizur Rahman (1/32), Rishad Hossain (2/25)
Bangladesh’s Chase: Fireworks, Fumbles, and a Nail-Biting Finish
Chasing 180 on a pitch that offered a bit of zip early on—bold move by skipper Shanto, but hey, home advantage has its perks. Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das opened with intent, racing to 45/0 in the powerplay. Das, in particular, looked imperious, smashing Taskin—no, wait, that’s their own bowler—hold on, he targeted Ireland’s seamers with disdain, lofting Josh Little for back-to-back boundaries.
Just when it seemed like a cruise, Barry McCarthy struck twice in an over: Das holed out to deep midwicket (38 off 22), and Tanzid followed, bowled by a yorker (29 off 18). At 62/2 after 7 overs, the required rate crept up to 9 an over. Shanto and Hridoy needed to rebuild, and they did—sort of. Shanto’s elegant 52 off 35 kept the chase alive, threading gaps like a surgeon, while Hridoy added 31 with some cheeky ramps.
The turning point? Overs 12 to 15, where Ireland’s spinners—Ben White and George Dockrell—choked the flow. White’s variations bamboozled Shanto into a top-edge caught at short third man, and Dockrell removed Hridoy with a quicker arm ball. Bangladesh slumped to 118/5, hearts in mouths for the home crowd.
But step up Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali. Shamim’s blistering 40 off 20, peppered with switch-hits and ramps, injected life back in. Jaker chipped in with 25, and suddenly, 20 were needed off the last three. Taskin Ahmed, batting at No. 9, played a cameo (15* off 6), but it was Shamim who nearly pulled off the heist—until Mark Adair’s full toss induced a skier, caught by Little at deep square leg.
Bangladesh fell short by 6 runs, finishing at 173/8. What a ride! Ireland’s death bowling—Adair (3/29) and Little (2/34)—proved decisive, their cutters holding up in the dew.
- Top Scorers for Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (52), Shamim Hossain (40), Litton Das (38)
- Key Bowlers for Ireland: Mark Adair (3/29), Josh Little (2/34), Barry McCarthy (2/36)
Post-Match Buzz: What It Means for the Series
Stirling couldn’t hide his grin in the handshakes: “The lads showed character today—losing early wickets could’ve sunk us, but Tector and Dockrell turned it around.” Shanto, gracious in defeat, admitted, “We had them, but those last overs… credit to their bowlers. The decider will be epic.”
With Ireland now leading 2-1—no, series tied? Wait, opener was Ireland’s win? Actually, quick recap: Bangladesh edged the first by 5 wickets, so this levels it at 1-1. The third T20I looms large, and if stats are anything to go by, Chattogram has hosted 12 T20Is with chases succeeding 70% of the time (per Cricbuzz data). Expect fireworks.
This match wasn’t just about runs; it highlighted T20’s beauty—resilience over raw power. Ireland’s depth shone through, while Bangladesh’s middle order needs a rethink. Fans, what’s your take? Drop a comment below—who do you fancy in the finale?
If you’re hungry for more live updates or T20 series previews, stick around. And hey, grab your tickets for the decider—trust me, you won’t want to miss it. What’s next for these two? Only time (and a few yorkers) will tell.
