Chattogram witnessed a dramatic finish on Saturday as Bangladesh edged out Ireland in the second T20I by four wickets, leveling the series 1-1. Litton Das's explosive half-century was instrumental in the victory, but a moment of sheer luck, coupled with an unfortunate intervention by a towel, became the talking point of the match.
Ireland, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted a total of 170. In response, Bangladesh faced a challenging chase, and the game hung in the balance when Litton Das, batting on 34, launched a pull shot towards deep mid-wicket. Gareth Delany, the Irish fielder, sprinted back and pulled off a stunning catch, plucking the ball out of the air with an outstretched right hand.
However, as Delany landed, a towel tucked into his trousers made contact with the ground before he could regain his balance and complete the catch. The third umpire reviewed the play and ruled that the catch was not clean, as the towel had interfered with the completion of the catch. Das was reprieved, and the incident was deemed a bizarre six.
The decision sparked debate among fans and commentators, with many questioning whether the towel should have been considered part of Delany's person or external equipment. Regardless, the reprieve proved crucial for Bangladesh, as Litton Das went on to score 57 off 37 balls, steering his team towards victory. He was named Player of the Match for his efforts.
The match itself was a closely contested affair, with Ireland getting off to an explosive start, reaching 75/1 during the powerplay, thanks to Paul Stirling and Tim Tector. However, Bangladesh fought back, with Mahedi Hasan taking 3 wickets for 25 runs, restricting Ireland to a manageable total. Lorcan Tucker's contribution of 41 runs also helped Ireland's innings.
In the later stages of Bangladesh's chase, the game swung back and forth. Ireland's bowlers kept the pressure on, but Litton Das's innings, combined with crucial contributions from Parvez Hossain Emon (43), guided Bangladesh home with just two balls to spare. Gareth Delany and Mark Adair each took two wickets for Ireland.
Reflecting on the game, Ireland captain Paul Stirling acknowledged that his team fell short in critical moments but praised their fighting spirit. Litton Das, despite getting hit on his finger, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance and looked forward to the series decider.
The series now stands level at 1-1, setting up a decisive final T20I on December 2nd in Chattogram. The match promises to be another thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to claim the series victory. The incident involving Delany's towel will undoubtedly be a talking point, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming game.
