Sports Desk:

Paul Stirling hit 77 off 41 balls as Ireland beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the third and final Twenty20 international to end their losing streak in their ongoing visit at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday.

Ireland reached 126-3 in 14 overs in reply to Bangladesh’s 124 courtesy of Shamim Hossain’s maiden T20I fifty [51 off 42 ball].

Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Rishad Hossain took one wickets apiece.

Bangladesh, who handedle-spinner Rishad Hossain a debut and picked up Shoriful Islam for Indian Premier League-bound Mustrafizur Rahman , won the toss for the first time in the series and elected  to bat first.

However, they found them soon at bay with Liton Das (5), Rony Talukdar (14), Najmul Hossain (4), Shakib Al Hasan (6), Towhid Hridoy (12) all fell cheaply  to disciplined Ireland  bowling .

With No Mehidy Hasan, who had to make way for debutant Rishad, Shamim was forced to stage a lone battle with tail-enders and the 22-year left-handed succeeded in, justifying his selection ahead of out-of-favour Afif Hossain.

Shamim struck five fours and two sixes before he was last man dismissed as Bangladesh were bowled out in 19.2 overs.

Mark Adair was the most successful Ireland bowler with 3-25.