Mushfiq steers Tigers to easy Test win over Irish

Bangladesh registered its first win at home since 2020 after overcoming a spirited Ireland side to win the one-off Test by seven wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday, reports BSS.

Since its landmark victory in New Zealand early in 2022, Bangladesh in fact lost eight tests and drew one before coming back to winning way in the longer version finally.

But the victory didn't come at as easy as it was expected given the lack of experience of the Irish side in this format. Playing its only fourth Test and first since 2019, Ireland fielded six debutants in this match but they fought admirably to put pressure on Bangladesh.

The victory which is expected to come on day three, finally came at post lunch session of day four as Ireland put a stubborn resistance to delay the inevitable.

Mushfiqur Rahim who hit 126 in the first innings, led the charge with an unbeaten 51 off 48 that studded with seven fours as Bangladesh chased down 138-run target effortlessly.

Liton Das gave Bangladesh a fluent start, hitting 23 off 19 that included three fours and one six. However, he was bowled by pacer Mark Adair.

Offspinner Andy McBrine who registered best bowling figure by an Irish bowler with 6-118 in the first innings, had Najmul Hossain Shanto caught by skipper Andrew Balbirnie for 4, giving the side a ray of hope with Bangladesh at 43-2.

Mushfiqur and Tamim with sustained aggression tamed the Ireland bowlers to bring Bangladesh to the closer.

Legspinner Ben White broke the partnership when Tamim was caught by Murray Commins for 31 at mid-on after trying to pull an ordinary delivery.

Mushfiqur and Mominul Haque then played with serenity but fluently to help the side reach victory mark with ease with the former hitting winning single. Mominul who hit one four and one six was 20 not out.

Earlier, the Tigers took 36 minutes to wrap up Irish second innings for 292 after the visitors resumed 286-6, expecting to bring more nightmare for Bangladesh.

Pacer Ebadot Hossain rattled the stump of McBrine in the fifth over of the day after he added just one run to his overnight 71 to be out on his career-best 72.

Ebadot then dismissed Graham Hume for 14, caught by Liton Das to finish with 3-37 and brought an end to the surprising resistance of Ireland.

Resuming at 27-4 and with a fear of being rolled out quickly to taste an innings defeat against the much-vaunted spin attack of Bangladesh, the Irish dug in and grittily batted out the third day to give themselves faint hope.

Lorcan Tucker hit a century, complemented by career-best half-centuries by Harry Tector and Andy McBrine helped Ireland survive day three and reach stumps on 286-8, leading Bangladesh by 131 runs. On day four, they could add just six runs to their overnight total.

Tucker, who made 108 off 162 balls with 14 fours and one six, became the second Irishman to hit a century on debut after Kevin O'Brien. Tector, another debutant followed his 50 in the first innings with 56.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was the best bowler for Bangladesh with 4-90, following his 5-58 in the first innings. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan who bowled only 13 overs, took 2-20.

Earlier, Bangladesh was bowled out for 369 in its first innings, taking 155 runs lead.