Browsing: Ireland

Bangladesh secured victory over Ireland by eight wickets in the decisive third Twenty20 international between the sides in Chattogram.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim equalled the record for most number of catches from an outfielder in T20 cricket with five.

To make it more remarkable, all five of his catches came in consecutive Irish wickets as Bangladesh limited the visitors to 117 all out with one ball remaining.

After winning the second T20 on Sunday to level the series, Bangladesh were too strong for Ireland in their innings and needed just 13.4 overs to score 119 and win by eight wickets.

Ireland won the first match between the sides by a convincing 39 runs before the home side levelled the series with a four-wicket victory on Saturday.

In Tuesday’s decider, Tim Tector was the first Irish batter dismissed on 17, and his brother Harry was the next to fall on five with Ireland at a half-century.

Lorcan Tucker was bowled by Shak Mahedi Hasan to be out on one run, and Curtis Campher followed on nine before Paul Stirling fell in the 11th over to leave Ireland on 73-5.

Tanzid then caught Gareth Delaney (10), Mark Adair (eight), Matthew Humphreys (one), George Dockrell (19) and Ben White (five) in five consecutive Irish wickets.

Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with figures of 3-11, and White’s dismissal left Ireland all out on 117 with one ball remaining.

Despite the losses of Saif Hassan (19) and Litton Das (seven) in the opening five overs, Bangladesh were comfortable with the bat and 55 from the impressive Tanzid and 33 from Hossain Emon powered Bangladesh to 119 and an eight-wicket victory.

It was a successful series for Bangladesh, who also dominated the two-match Test series between the sides before the three T20s.

Source link

Ireland opening batter Tim Tector says being at the crease with his older brother Harry is “an unbelievable privilege” as the siblings prepare to try and help Heinrich Malan’s side make history in their deciding T20 international against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Tuesday.

A win for Ireland would see them become the first Ireland men’s team to win a series against a Full Member of the ICC in Asia and build some momentum as they build towards the 2026 T20 World Cup in February.

Harry Tector was part of the squad which lost both Test matches against the Bangladeshis in November, with his younger brother joining up with the group for the subsequent three T20I encounters.

Ireland won the first of those matches by 39 runs, with Harry, third in the batting order, ending unbeaten on 69 and Tim contributing 39.

Tim scored 38 and Harry 11 as Bangladesh won the second match between the teams by four wickets on Saturday.

“It’s obviously very cool batting with Harry out there. 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,” said Tim

“Obviously, a slightly bigger occasion out here, but I do recognise that playing together on the same international side is an unbelievable privilege.”

Cricket is very much a family affair for the Tectors, with other members having also played the sport.

“It’s a real family thing. Our eldest brother Jack was captain of the Under-19s at a World Cup – actually, I think it was out here in Bangladesh.

“Our dad played a little bit and then Harry did the same, I did the same. We also have a little sister, Alice, who’s broken into the women’s team.

“We’ve all played in the same club pretty much throughout our journey, and we all love it. Maybe it’s rare that every family member loves playing the same sport, but it’s great that we all get along with it, and we all love playing it.”

Source link

Bangladesh secured victory over Ireland with just two balls to spare in the second T20I between the sides at Chattogram on Saturday.

After Ireland made 170-6 off their 20 overs, Bangladesh replied with 174-6 off 19.4 overs to level the series at 1-1 ahead of the deciding contest between the sides in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Ireland won the first match between the sides convincingly by 39 runs on Thursday.

Irish openers Paul Stirling (29) and Tim Tector (38) put on 57 for the first wicket, before the former was dismissed in the fifth over after an innings which included two sixes and three fours off just 14 balls.

Tim Tector’s wicket fell in the ninth over to leave the score 88-2, then brother Harry Tector (11) followed after a solitary additional run had been added to the tourists’ total.

Ben Calitz (7) was next to go, but a fifth-wicket partnership of 56 between George Dockrell (18) and Lorcan Ticker, who top-scored with 41, got Ireland back on track.

Sjak Mahedi Hasan was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with figures of 3-25.

The early loss of Tanzid Hasan Tamin for seven did not deter the Bangladeshi response as Parvez Hossain Emon made 43 and captain Litton Kumer Das 57 to put the home side in a strong position.

Bangladesh sat 138-3 after 15 overs after those two had departed but the wickets of Saif Hassan (22), Tawhid Hridoy (6) and Nurul Hasan Sohan (5) fell in quick succession to put their side under pressure.

Ultimately Mohammad Saifuddin (17) and Mahedi (6) saw their team over the line as the unbeaten batters.

Mark Adair and Gareth Delany took two wickets apiece for Ireland.

Source link

Bangladesh eventually overcame a spirited Ireland on the final day of the second Test to claim a 2-0 series win in Mirpur.

They won the second Test by 217 runs, having claimed victory in the first Test by an innings and 47 runs.

Heinrich Mallan’s Ireland side knew they were up against it on Sunday, as they needed 333 more runs on day five to spring an almighty surprise.

While they fell short of their 509 target, Curtis Campher impressed as he dug in for 71 not out from 259 balls.

He was partnered by Test debutant Gavin Hoey, who enjoyed a 104-ball stay that brought 37 runs, including four fours, as he and Campher pushed on into the middle session of the day.

Shortly after lunch, Ireland’s total had become the highest fourth-innings Test score in Dhaka by a visiting side.

Bangladesh eventually wrapped up victory and the series in the 60th over of the day as Hoey and then Matthew Humphreys were dismissed by Hasan Murad.

Ireland ended all out for 291 as Murad finished with 4-44.

“At the start of the day the main word we had was fight,” said Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie.

“We knew we would be up against it for most of the day but the application by Curtis and Gavin was really amazing and even Jordan [Neill], the way he played, but particularly Curtis to be out there for as long as he was.

“A lot of resilience but at the same time, we were definitely outplayed, and Bangladesh were deserving of their win.”

The second Test will be followed by three T20 internationals, the first of which takes place on Thursday, 27 November.

Source link

Ultimately, on the pitch, Oxtoby’s reign will be remembered for moments of brilliance rather than consistent success and she could not guide NI to the next edition of the Euros.

That is a microcosm of performances too, where Northern Ireland often played well in patches but struggled to string a 90-minute showing together.

The most obvious highlight was Lauren Wade’s stunning late winner against Croatia in the first round of Euro 2025 play-offs in October 2024.

Magill stepped up and delivered two memorable late goals to snatch a late win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in February, but there’s also the argument the team should not have been in that position to start with after they conceded twice in four minutes after dominating the game.

The four-goal win in Albania was impressive, and victories in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro were also strong outings.

Of the 11 defeats suffered under Oxtoby, all but one were against sides who have featured at the last World Cup or Euros.

The heavy defeats by Norway, Poland, Portugal, Iceland and the Republic of Ireland were a stark reality of NI’s position in Europe’s pecking order.

And there lies Northern Ireland’s biggest issue.

No matter who Northern Ireland’s next manager is, the biggest challenge is how to make the next step and contend to reach a second major tournament.

Since the Nations League format was introduced, in Oxtoby’s first campaign in charge in 2023, NI have been in League B for every iteration of the competition.

In short, they are too good for League C but any time they have faced League A opposition they have come up well short.

There are no easy answers as to how NI can bridge the gap to the top sides, especially with the young make-up of the squad, who have potential but are far from the finished product.

Source link

Oxtoby managed Bristol City from 2018 to 2021 before becoming assistant coach to Emma Hayes at Chelsea for two seasons.

The Australian has also had spells as Scotland, Birmingham City and Perth Glory, and as Australia Under-20s assistant.

She began her managerial career at Nottingham Forest in 2012.

Under Oxtoby, Northern Ireland lost to Norway in the Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs last year.

Last month, in what proved to be Oxtoby’s final two games in charge, they lost 5-0 to Iceland on aggregate to miss out on promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to lead Northern Ireland,” Oxtoby told the Irish FA’s website upon the announcement of her departure.

“We have seen a massive transition of young players coming through and a real high performing environment created which is a huge credit to players and staff alike who have been a pleasure to work with during my time in post.

“I wish everyone the best going forward. To the fans, thank you for always supporting the journey. Northern Ireland, and the Green and White Army, will always have a special place in my heart.”

Newcastle had been without a head coach since Becky Langley left on 21 October with the club ninth in the table.

They went fully professional in 2023 and finished fifth in their first campaign in the second tier last season.

This season the top two from WSL 2 will earn automatic promotion to the top flight, while the team that finish third face a play-off with the bottom club in the WSL.

Source link

The third day of Ireland’s second Test in Bangladesh was temporarily stopped because of a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in capital city Dhaka.

According to Reuters, the government in Bangladesh said at least five people had been killed in the incident on Friday, and around 100 people had been injured.

Ireland were batting at the time the earthquake struck and players remained on the field of play at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Coaches and players not involved gathered at the boundary, while those in the stands took shelter.

The game was stopped for three minutes but play soon resumed with Ireland in pursuit of Bangladesh’s total of 476.

Cricket Ireland said “all involved in this game today are thinking of those affected by this event”.

Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan said: “I’ve been involved in a couple of earthquakes from my time living in New Zealand.

“It’s never a nice feeling and you’re trying to understand what is happening in the moment around you, but also the bigger impacts about where the earthquake struck.

“Everything stood still for a couple of minutes and we got back to business, but we’re thinking of everyone and hoping there wasn’t too much damage done.”

Despite a fourth Test half-century from Lorcan Tucker and a 49 from Jordan Neill, Ireland, who were 98-5 at close of play on Thursday, were all out for 265 but as the Najmul Hossain Shanto opted against enforcing the follow-on and the hosts returned to the crease.

Shadman Islam’s unbeaten 69 and 60 from Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who was dismissed by Gavin Hoey, moved Bangladesh 367 runs clear, with another nine wickets remaining.

Bangladesh won the first Test of the two-game series by an innings and 47 runs. It will be followed by three T20 internationals.

Source link

Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have a chance to qualify for the World Cup via the play-offs.

Northern Ireland have earned a place after their Nations League performance which saw them win their group, and Troy Parrott’s heroics in Hungary means the Republic or Ireland finished second in their World Cup qualifying group.

The draw for the play-offs takes place on Thursday, 19 November, and the question on everyones lips is could the two meet each other on the road to booking a ticket to Canada, Mexico and the United States?

The remaining four spaces are decided by Nations League performance, with group winners who finished outside the top two of the World Cup qualifying group able to gain a place in the play-offs.

Source link

The former Tottenham winger Tony Galvin is recovering from a stroke, the club has announced.

The 69-year-old made 273 appearances for Spurs in the 1980s, winning back-to-back FA Cups in 1981 and 1982. Both of those finals – against Manchester City and QPR respectively – went to replays, and Galvin started all four matches. The replay against City was settled by Ricky Villaâ€s stunning famous solo dribble and shot, but it was an attacking passage of play that began following a trademark Galvin charge down the left wing.

He also started both legs of the 1984 Uefa Cup final against Anderlecht, which finished 2-2 on aggregate and went to a penalty shootout, which Spurs won 4-3 after Galvin had been substituted in the second half.

Despite being an England schools player in his younger years, Galvin won 29 caps for the Republic of Ireland and played all three group matches under Jack Charlton at Euro 1988, including his sideâ€s much-celebrated 1-0 victory over England.

He signed for Sheffield Wednesday in 1987, leaving in 1989 to play under his former Spurs teammate Ossie Ardiles at Swindon. Galvin later served as assistant to the Argentinian at both Swindon and Newcastle.

Spurs posted on X: “Everyone at the club would like to extend their thoughts and best wishes to Tony Galvin, our 1984 UEFA Cup and 1981 & 82 FA Cup winner, who is now recovering following a stroke. Weâ€re all behind you, Tony.â€

Source link

Ultimately the margins in Group A came down to Slovakia beating Germany at home while Northern Ireland were beaten twice by the four-time World Cup winners.

Indeed, while it matters little in terms of the final table, Northern Ireland were much more convincing in their 2-0 victory over Slovakia at Windsor Park last month than their hosts were in Kosice on Friday night.

After Tomas Bobcek’s stoppage-time winner, frustrations appeared to boil over with words exchanged between the two sets of players following the final whistle, while O’Neill said opposing manager Francesco Calzona did not shake his hand after the game.

“It was disappointing, really. I think when we beat them in Belfast, I think we had a bit more class about us after the game,” Bradley said.

“They were sort of giving it a bit more. It’s disappointing but I’m sure we’ll see them again.”

Midfielder Isaac Price was equally unimpressed with Slovakia’s response to the win which kept alive their hopes of qualifying not just for the play-offs but automatically at the expense of Germany for the tournament in North America next summer.

“I think some of their players had a lot to say especially ones that didn’t play,” said the West Bromwich Albion player. “I think if you’re playing in the game and you want to have a pop then that’s fine, but if you’re a third choice goalkeeper and you’re not playing, I think just be quiet.

“They had a few words to say. They looked overly excited but that’s a compliment to us. I think they took that as a really big result and it is a big result for them.

“I think we were far better than them at home. They wanted revenge and ultimately they got it.”

Source link