Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons lashed out at his team after their first round exit from the World Twenty20, saying they were not willing to learn.
“It was ridiculous batting,” Australian Siddons said after Bangladesh were restricted to a modest 137-8 by minnows Ireland, who won by six wickets to book their place in the Super Eights.
Trent Johnson grabbed 3-20 before the O’Brien brothers, Niall and Kevin, guided Ireland home with 10 deliveries to spare at Trent Bridge.
PHOTO: AP
Niall made 40 off 25 balls, while Kevin completed the easy win with an unbeaten 39 off 17 balls.
Bangladesh, who had lost their opening game against defending champions India, return home with two defeats, while the Irish move into the Super Eights from group A along with the Indians.
“We just did not make enough runs,” Siddons said. “It was ridiculous batting on a wicket where the par score should have been 170 at least.”
“We had a backup plan to get 150 if we could not get 170. And we end up with a shitty score of 137. Anyone can get those runs,” Siddons said.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s cricketers were hailed as sporting heroes yesterday.
“Inspired Ireland reach Super Eights” headlined the Irish Times.
“O’Brien brothers bash Bangladesh” said the Irish Independent.
“Ireland have now beaten Bangladesh in both the 50 and 20-over versions of the World Cup, and the growing clamor for the national team to be given full Test status will be deafening should they perform well against India,” the newspaper said.
The game is very much a minority sport in the Republic of Irealnd with attitudes only changing in recent years following the Northern Ireland peace process and an influx of immigrants boosting the sport.
Cricket was brought to Ireland by the English and initially thrived but in the 1890s the Gaelic Athletic Association brought in a ban on their players taking part in “foreign games” like cricket, hockey, rugby and soccer. The ban was not rescinded until 1971.
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