Bangladesh’s 39-run defeat to Ireland in Chattogram highlighted a costly powerplay collapse, with four early wickets derailing their chase of 182. Despite Towhid Hridoy’s brilliant 83 off 50 balls, the lack of partnerships and poor execution proved decisive. Hridoy admitted mindset lapses and stressed the need for better intent, discipline, and belief when chasing big totals in T20 cricket.
Bangladesh’s Powerplay Collapse and Hridoy’s Honest Reflection
Bangladesh suffered a frustrating 39-run defeat to Ireland in the opening match of the three-game T20I series in Chattogram, and the biggest talking point was their disastrous start with the bat. Chasing 182, the hosts lost four wickets inside the first six overs—Litton Das, Tanzid Hassan, Parvez Hossain, and Saif Hassan—all departing as Bangladesh crumbled to 20 for 4.
Despite a brilliant fighting knock from Towhid Hridoy, who produced a career-best 83 off 50 balls, the team never recovered from the early collapse. Speaking after the match, Hridoy admitted that Bangladesh simply failed to execute their plans in the powerplay, which ultimately cost them the match.
Towhid Hridoy insisted that the pitch was good enough for batting and rejected the idea that the conditions were to blame. According to him, Bangladesh lost because they failed to show discipline, build partnerships, and match the Irish intensity early on. “We lost a few early wickets… one strong partnership could have completely changed the game,” he said.
He highlighted his stand with Zakir Hasan as a crucial phase. Had they stretched the partnership to 70–80 runs, Hridoy believes the chase would have looked very different. He also mentioned that allowing experienced hitters like Shakib and Rishad to come in with 4–5 overs left would have given Bangladesh a better chance.
The batter stressed that chasing big totals requires both intent and execution. “When the target is 180+, you must play shots. But execution wasn’t good enough today,” he admitted. He added that the issue is not skill, but mindset. Bangladesh have chased 200 before, and Towhid Hridoy believes the team can regain momentum if they stay confident and responsible.
He also noted that T20 cricket is unpredictable, and losing a few matches does not mean the team has declined. “T20 is a game of momentum… when we start winning again, you will see it continue,” he assured.
Towhid Hridoy further defended Bangladesh’s preference for chasing, citing the heavy dew factor in Chattogram. He explained that dew made bowling difficult in the second innings, and any team winning the toss would choose to bowl first.
On the other side, Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker praised his team’s strong start. Opening the batting for the first time in a while, he said that Ireland’s aggressive approach in the powerplay set the tone. Tucker credited Matthew Humphreys for his accuracy, which he felt was crucial on a pitch that rewarded disciplined bowling. He also acknowledged the challenge of keeping the ball dry due to dew, which affected their fielding.
Overall, the match was a clear reminder that in T20 cricket, the powerplay can decide everything. Bangladesh will need to rethink their approach, sharpen their mindset, and execute better if they want to bounce back in the remaining matches.
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FAQ
What was the main reason behind Bangladesh’s defeat in Chattogram?
The early powerplay collapse, where they lost four wickets inside six overs, was the biggest factor.
How did Towhid Hridoy perform in the match?
He scored a career-best 83 off 50 balls and was the only batter to show resistance.
Did the pitch contribute to Bangladesh’s poor start?
No. Hridoy confirmed the pitch was good and blamed execution, not conditions.
Why does Bangladesh still prefer chasing?
Due to the strong dew factor in Chattogram, which makes bowling second very difficult.
Who impressed most from the Ireland side?
Matthew Humphreys stood out with his accuracy and disciplined bowling.