Mushfiqur Rahim hit a fifty that powered Bangladesh to 246-9 against Ireland in the first of three one-day internationals in Chelmsford on Tuesday.

Mushfiqur hit a 70-ball 61, his forty fourth ODI fifty while Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished with 44 and 27 runs, respectively, to manage the humble total for the visiting side.

Josh Little was the most successful bowler for the Irish, claiming 3-61, while Graham Hume and Mark Adair each took 2 wickets.

Sent to bat, the tourists made a shaky start, losing their opening pair Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das for 14 and a golden duck by Mark Adair and Josh Little, respectively.

Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan subsequently fell to Hume for 20 off 21 balls following a 37-run stand with Shanto for the fourth wicket.

The latter then shared a 50-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy in the next stand to surpass the hundred mark prior to his removal by Curtis Campher, leaving the side with a stuttering 102-4 in 21.4 overs.

Then, riding on Mushfiqur and Mehidy Hasan’s bat, who added 65 off 66 balls in the sixth wicket stand, Bangladesh posted a moderate total.