HEAVY RAIN led to the abandonment of the second one-day international in Sylhet last night and probably saved Ireland from a second heavy defeat by Bangladesh after the home side posted a whopping 349-6 from 50 overs. The forecast storms arrived during the dinner break and did not allow a re-start. Graham Hume was again the pick of the Ireland bowlers, mixing up his medium pace intelligently for a return of 3-58, to follow up his 4-60 in the opener, but the spinners suffered with combined figures of 0-155 from 20 overs. Debutant Matthew Humphreys, a 20-year-old left armer from the Belfast area, quickly discovered that senior cricket is big step up from U19s where he has been a stand out performer, while Andy McBrine and Harry Tector fared little better. The home side’s total was their highest in ODIs, beating the 338-8 they amassed on Saturday, and Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100 not out from 60 balls, completed from the last delivery of the innings, is his country’s fastest in List A matches. Ireland may regret leaving specialist spin bowling coach Nathan Hauritz in Dublin because with the slow men lacking inspiration and star paceman Josh Little sidelined, it’s hard to see where wickets are to come from in Thursday’s final game.

Ireland crashed to a crushing 183-run loss in the first match of their ODI series against Bangladesh in Sylhet. The hosts compiled their record ODI total of 338/8 after being put in, with Shakib Al Hasan (93) and debutant Towid Hridoy (92) sharing a fourth wicket stand of 135. The wicket of Shakib didn't slow Bangladesh with the equally experienced Mushfiqur racing to 44 as he and Towid added 80 in 8 overs. Graham Hume (4-60) was the pick of the tourists attack. Stephen Doheny (34) and Paul Stirling (22) got the reply off to a fine start as they added 60 in 11 overs for the opening wicket. However a collapse followed which saw five wickets fall for 16 to effectively settle the contest. George Dockrell top-scored with 45 to give the margin a modicum of respectability but it was a little crumb of comfort on a day when Heinrich Malan's side were totally outplayed by the in-from Tigers. The sides meet again on Monday at the same venue.