Belfast: Two near-perfect overs from the offspinner Mahmudullah proved the difference between two well-matched sides and gave Bangladesh an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Mahmudullah give just four singles in the 18th over, and kept up the pressure with ten needed off the final over. His first three balls cost two runs as Ed Joyce and Andrew Poynter struggled to get him away, and both then perished to catches on the long-on rope as they tried to find the boundaries Ireland now needed. A fuming Trent Johnston smacked a six off the final ball, it wasn't enough.

Ireland kept the required rate under check for most parts of the chase but couldn't quite finish it off. Stirling, Joyce and Wilson got starts but at least one of them should have carried on and seen them through.

Earlier, Bangladesh have to thank Nasir Hossain (50*) for the score they have got. They looked down and out after the early strikes but Nasir Hossain and Mohammad Ashraful (38) steadied the knock. Ashraful fell but Nasir Hossain carried on and made a quick-fire half century.

Nasir Hossain is the Man of the Match for his half century which changed the course of the game.

Brief scores
Bangladesh 146 for 6 (Nasir Hossain 50*)
Ireland 145 for 6 (Joyce 41)
Result Bangladesh won by one run
MOM Nasir Hossain (Bangladesh)