Bangladesh cricket fans were treated to a memorable finish on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, as the home team clinched the T20 International series against Ireland in emphatic style at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. With the series locked at 1-1, all eyes were on the decider, and it was Tanzid Hasan who stole the show—both with his safe hands in the field and his explosive batting at the crease.
Bangladesh’s chase of Ireland’s modest 117-run total was nothing short of clinical. The hosts raced to 119-2 in just 13.4 overs, sealing an eight-wicket victory with a whopping 38 balls left unused. But while the scoreboard tells a story of dominance, it was the individual brilliance and team effort that truly defined the day.
Let’s start with Tanzid Hasan, who etched his name into the cricketing record books. Not only did he anchor the run chase with an unbeaten 55 off 36 balls—smashing four boundaries and three sixes for his 11th T20 half-century—but he also set a new standard in the field. Tanzid became the first cricketer from a full Test nation to take five catches in a T20 International, all at the boundary, with four coming at long-on. His efforts in the deep were instrumental in restricting Ireland and snuffing out any hopes of a late fightback.
Partnering with Tanzid in the run chase was fellow left-hander Parvez Hossain, who played a mature hand with an unbeaten 33 off 26 balls, including three sixes. The pair put on a brisk 73-run stand in just 50 deliveries, taking the game away from the visitors. Parvez fittingly sealed the win with a boundary past square leg, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Bangladesh’s pursuit began with a minor hiccup as they lost Saif Hassan (19) and skipper Liton Das (7) in quick succession. But there was no panic—Tanzid and Parvez steadied the ship, rotating the strike and punishing anything loose. Their calm under pressure was a testament to Bangladesh’s growing confidence in the shortest format, especially after a series that saw both teams trading blows.
For Ireland, the day began with promise. Captain Paul Stirling, opting to bat first in search of a maiden series win on Bangladeshi soil, led from the front with a brisk 38 off 27 balls, peppering the boundary with five fours and a six. Stirling’s intent was clear: set a challenging total and put Bangladesh under scoreboard pressure. His opening partner, Tim Tector, also showed glimpses of form, but the tide turned dramatically after Stirling fell to a well-disguised googly from Rishad Hossain.
That dismissal sparked a collapse, as Ireland tumbled from 50-1 to 73-5. The middle order simply had no answers to Bangladesh’s varied attack. Rishad Hossain wreaked havoc with a spell of 3-21, bamboozling batters with his flight and turn. Mustafizur Rahman, the left-arm pace maestro, mopped up the tail with figures of 3-11, while Shoriful Islam chipped in with 2-21. Apart from Stirling, only George Dockrell (19) and Gareth Delany (10) managed double digits, a testament to the relentless pressure exerted by the home side.
It’s worth remembering how the series unfolded to reach this decisive moment. Ireland stunned the hosts in the opening T20I, securing a commanding 39-run victory on the back of Harry Tector’s half-century and Matthew Humphreys’ sensational 4-13. Bangladesh, however, hit back in the second game, eking out a tense four-wicket win with just two balls to spare, thanks to Mahedi Hasan’s three wickets, Liton Das’s captain’s knock, and Parvez Hossain Emon’s rapid 43.
Bangladesh’s resilience was on full display, especially after a challenging first game. The team’s ability to bounce back under pressure has been a hallmark of their cricket in recent years, and this series win only adds to their growing reputation in T20 cricket. The depth in their squad—highlighted by contributions from both established stars and emerging talents—bodes well for their future campaigns.
For Ireland, the series was about more than just results. Head coach Heinrich Malan, speaking ahead of the decider, reflected on the progress his side had made. "When we started this series, we were clear that is part of our T20 World Cup build up. We obviously haven't had the amount of cricket that we would have wanted throughout the year, but that's in the past. We're now just focusing on where we're at," Malan shared, as reported by the ICC website. He also praised his team’s willingness to adapt and express themselves in the evolving T20 landscape: "The T20 game has evolved massively over the last little period and I think we've identified that we want to free our players up to go out there and express themselves—and I think we've seen that in the last week."
One of the more heartwarming subplots was the Tector brothers—Harry and Tim—sharing the crease in the first T20I. Tim, reflecting on the experience, said, "It's obviously very cool batting with Harry out there. I mean, we've done it for quite a while now in our club stuff, and in our domestic stuff at home, so it didn't feel that different batting with him." The younger Tector was candid about his approach, stating, "I know I've got a couple of starts, and have obviously been disappointed about getting out, but I don't mind I'm getting out taking the aggressive option—getting out while looking to keep that momentum going outside the powerplay instead of trying to bat for a score. That's the way this team wants to play."
Looking ahead, Ireland will be eager to build on the positives as they prepare for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Placed in Group B alongside heavyweights like Australia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman, the Irish side will kick off their campaign against Sri Lanka in Colombo on February 8, 2026. The lessons learned in Bangladesh—especially under high-pressure situations—could prove invaluable on cricket’s biggest stage.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will savor this series triumph, adding it to their earlier Test series sweep over Ireland. The home side’s ability to adapt, innovate, and execute under pressure continues to thrill their passionate supporters. As the players celebrated under the Chattogram lights, it was clear that this was more than just another series win—it was a statement of intent ahead of bigger challenges to come.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, both teams will take plenty of lessons and confidence from this hard-fought series. And for Tanzid Hasan, whose name now sits atop the record books, the future looks brighter than ever.
