DUBLIN: Bangladesh were firmly in control at the halfway stage of their tri-series one-day international against Ireland after bowling out the hosts for 181 in 46.3 overs. Mustafizur Rahman was the leading bowler with four for 23, backed up by captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who took two for 18. Debutant Sunzamul Islam also claimed two wickets, his first being Ireland’s top-scorer Ed Joyce for 46. Joyce missed the first two games of the series with a back injury but he had to play a rearguard innings as he lost three partners in the first 15 overs. Paul Stirling was caught in the slips from Mustafizur’s third delivery and Ireland captain William Porterfield followed in the ninth over, giving a tame return catch to Mosaddek Hossain after making 22. Andrew Balbirnie was surprisingly sent in at No 4, even though Niall O’Brien had scored a century in Ireland’s last game against New Zealand, and it proved a mistake as he scored only 12 before Shakib Al Hasan beat his defence. O’Brien again looked comfortable, reaching 30 off 42 balls but his attempt at hitting a second six was intercepted inside the boundary by Tamim Iqbal, who held a good catch above his head. When Joyce miscued to the same fielder in the same position in the next over Ireland were 126 for six and in danger of not even making the lunch interval. It got worse for the home side when Mustafizur returned to the attack and in the space of four balls removed both Kevin O’Brien and Gary Wilson, although it looked as if the latter was unlucky because the ball appeared to come off his thigh pad. George Dockrell, one of only four players to reach over 20, put up some late resistance with a 25 off 50 balls. But when he was ninth out the innings lasted only two more balls as No 11 Peter Chase give Mushfiqur Rahim his third catch behind the wicket.