NEW DELHI: Left arm spinner Matthew Humphreys claimed a career best 4 for 13 as Ireland made a winning start to the three match T20 series with a 39 run victory against Bangladesh on Thursday.

Ireland posted a competitive 181 for 4 thanks to a well composed knock from Harry Tector who remained unbeaten on 69 from 45 balls. Chasing a challenging target Bangladesh managed to put up 142 for 9 after a disastrous start as they were reduced to 5 for 3 in the fourth over.

Despite a lone fight from Towhid Hridoy who struck a career best 83 not out Bangladesh’s batting collapse was too much to overcome.

Humphreys and Adair script Ireland’s win

Humphreys who was impressive amid the tourists 2 0 loss in the Test series gave the side a breakthrough in the opening over by dismissing Tanzid Hasan Tamim for 2 before taking three wickets in one over in his second spell to script Ireland's victory.

Mark Adair dealt a double blow to jolt Bangladesh further

Adair sent back Parvez Hossain Emon and Liton Das both for 1 in consecutive overs as he returned figures of 2 for 20.

Bangladesh tried to claw back into the game through Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali who played patiently in order to rebuild the innings. But pacer Barry McCarthy who grabbed 3 for 23 undid Jaker with a short ball for 20 ending the 48 run partnership.

Humphreys returned with three wickets in one over leaving Bangladesh at a precarious 74 for 8 in the 13th over. Hridoy continued to fight raising his fifth T20 half century from 34 balls slapping a delivery of Curtis Campher to deep point for a single. He shared two partnerships with Shoriful and Nasum Ahmed to delay Ireland's victory.

Earlier the knock by Tector laced with one four and five sixes drove the side to a challenging target for Bangladesh after the Irish openers gave the side a fluent start.

After being put into bat first captain Paul Stirling and Tim Tector added 40 runs from 26 balls before the captain top edged a delivery of Tanzid Hasan Sakib for 21.

The Tector brothers Harry and Tim kept up the aggressive brand of cricket until Tim Tector perished to a big shot after hammering a 19 ball 32.

After anchoring the innings Harry Tector flourished in the last over taking the total past 180.

(With PTI Inputs)