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Ireland opener Paul Stirling and skipper Andrew Balbirnie applied themselves and put together an unbeaten 74-run stand to take their score to 91 for the loss of one at the end of the 20th over in chase of Bangladesh’s 274 in the third and final ODI of the three-match series in Chelmsford on Sunday.
The hosts still need 184 runs to win from 30 overs to level the series.
Stirling hit three fours and two sixes for his 52-ball 45, while Balbirnie’s steady knock saw him muster 31 runs from 51 deliveries, including three fours.
Ireland openers were forced to a watchful start, courtesy of some tight bowling by the Bangladesh pacers. The hosts managed just 21 runs after the end of the sixth over.
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman nicked off Ireland opener Stephen Doheny in the sixth over to give the Tigers their first breakthrough.
Doheny, who chewed up 16 balls for his four runs, struggled to get going and was put out of his misery when he tried to let loose after Mustafizur angled one across outside off-stump. The right-handed batter tried to drive it through mid-wicket but could only edge it to second slip.
