A bizarre and unprecedented moment involving towel interference proved decisive as Bangladesh clinched a last-over thriller against Ireland in the second T20I in Chattogram, levelling the three-match series 1-1. Chasing 171, the hosts got home with four wickets and two balls to spare, thanks to skipper Litton Das’s match-winning half-century and a crucial three-wicket spell from Mahedi Hasan earlier in the evening.

Gareth Delany’s stunning effort goes in vain

The dramatic flashpoint arrived in the 12th over of Bangladesh’s chase, when Litton – batting in the 30s – miscued a slog toward deep midwicket. Irish fielder Gareth Delany pulled off what appeared to be a sensational catch just inside the boundary rope. But a third-umpire review overturned the dismissal after replays showed that a white towel tucked into Delany’s waistband grazed the boundary cushion, instantly triggering the dead ball-six runs rule under MCC Law 19.5. The moment left Ireland stunned and turned the contest sharply in Bangladesh’s favour.

While the incident caused immediate confusion on the field, playing conditions were crystal clear. Under the laws of the game, any contact between a fielder – or their clothing or equipment – and the boundary while they are touching the ball results in a boundary. Since Delany’s towel brushed the rope as he landed with the ball in hand, the catch was deemed invalid and the shot upgraded to six.

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Analysts noted that fielders are repeatedly instructed to avoid loose accessories such as towels or caps when patrolling the boundary, precisely to prevent such situations. Although Ireland’s camp felt aggrieved given the crucial stage of the chase, neutral observers – including segments of Irish media – described it as “technically correct but brutally unlucky.” The six lifted Bangladesh’s win probability immediately, shifting momentum beyond Ireland’s reach.

Litton Das’s fifty guides Bangladesh to victory

Litton fully capitalised on the reprieve, bringing up his 16th T20I half-century with a powerful slog-sweep six soon after the controversial moment. Coming out to bat at No.3, he helped Bangladesh thunder to 66/1 in the powerplay, keeping the required run rate under control even as Ireland attempted to slow things with cutters and wide lines at the death.

The chase tightened briefly when Litton and Parvez Hossain Emon fell within four balls, but Bangladesh’s middle and lower-middle order held their nerve. Saif Hassan played a steady knock, while Mohammad Saifuddin struck a decisive six and boundary in the final over, ensuring the hosts crossed the line with two deliveries remaining.

Mahedi Hasan’s 3/25 derails Ireland after explosive powerplay

Earlier in the evening, Ireland seemed on track for a mammoth total after racing to 75 in the powerplay through Tim Tector and Paul Stirling, who repeatedly targeted the shorter leg-side boundary. But the innings flipped dramatically when Mahedi Hasan removed both Tector brothers in the same over, triggering a slump that reduced Ireland’s momentum.

His spell of 3/25 pinned the visitors down through the middle overs despite Lorcan Tucker’s fluent 41, eventually restricting Ireland to 170/6 – a total that proved just short in a game decided by razor-thin margins.