Bangladesh showed Ireland how to defend a potential winning total as another late order collapse saw Andrew Balbirnie’s side end their World Cup Super League campaign with another heartbreaking defeat, this time by five runs.

There have been so many in this series that it is hard to find sympathy any more as at Chelmsford yesterday they again failed to cross the finish line with victory in their sights.

After the bowlers did superbly to restrict Bangladesh to 274, Paul Stirling, Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker all posted 50s, but none passed 60 and the captain admitted afterwards that “as batters we must do better, one of us should have seen us home.”

Balbirnie added: “We were in control for large parts and it is again frustrating not to get over the line. Going into a qualifying tournament we have to get better.

“We lost wickets in clusters at the back end and that’s what can happen in this game.”

For Ireland it is happening too often and that qualifying tournament is for the ICC World Cup in October. It is just a month away and taking on Sri Lanka, West Indies and hosts Zimbabwe, not to mention Netherlands and Scotland, looks a frightening prospect with only two to qualify for India.

The positive yesterday was the return of Craig Young who got through 10 overs and seems to be on course not just for Zimbabwe, but also the Lord’s Test at the start of next month.

The big negative was Ireland’s collapse from 225 for three – needing 50 from 50 balls – with no one able to take over from Harry Tector after he was out for the first time in an ODI in the 40s.

Mark Adair took 14 off the 49th over to leave 10 to win, but he was out to the first ball of the last, attempting a ramp shot.

Scores: Bangladesh 274 (Tamim Iqbal 69, Mushfiqur Rahim 45, Mehidy Hassan 37, Najmul Shanto 35, Litton Das 35; M Adair 4-40, G Dockrell 2-31, A McBrine 2-39, C Young 1-53) Ireland 269-9 (P Stirling 60, A Balbirnie 53, L Tucker 50, H Tector 45, M Adair 20; Mustafizur Rahman 4-44, Hassan Mahmud 2-43). Bangladesh won by 5 runs