Sports Desk

Bangladesh are looking forward to wrapping up the three-match ODI series when they take on visiting Ireland in the second match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet today.

The match will start at 2:00pm (BST) and will be telecast live on T Sports.

Bangladesh won the first match with quite ease and if their recent form and strength are anything to go by, Bangladesh are on course for another comprehensive victory to seal the series with a match to spare.

However, Bangladesh spin bowling coach Rangana Herath said on Sunday that they are not taking anything for granted. “We know

they (Ireland) will come hard against us and we must be prepared for it,” he said.

The Tigers put up their ODI highest 338-8 in the series opener and then shot the visitors out for only 155 runs in 30.5 overs to claim a 183-run victory, comfortably their largest margin victory in this format.

At any stage, barring the first 10 overs when there was some swing for the pacers on offer, Ireland were no match for Bangladesh who have been invincible at their own backyard for the last eight years. In this period, they lost just two series -- both against England.

It was the third bilateral series between Bangladesh and Ireland. While Bangladesh won the first bilateral series at home in 2008 by sweeping a three-match series, they drew the three-match series in Ireland by 1-1 in 2010 while one match of that series was abandoned.

Both sides have played 11 matches so far with Bangladeshi leading the contest comfortably with eight wins and Ireland won just two matches.
Bangladesh missed Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the series opener against Ireland as he injured his eyes while playing football ahead of their game and Herath insisted they will make a call after getting the medical report.

“He (Mehidy) will be monitored today (Sunday) as well. He will consult the doctors, so once we know, we will let you know,” Herath concluded.