Bangladesh clinch innings victory over Ireland in 1st Test
Bangladesh dominated Ireland thoroughly in the first cricket Test to seal an innings and 47-run victory at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today. Resuming Day 4 at 86-5, still needing 215 runs to make Bangladesh bat again, Ireland failed to offer any significant resistance in the face of some wily spin attack. They were eventually bowled out for 254 in the second session of the day, giving Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Left-arm spinner Hasan Murad claimed 4-60 to play a key role in the comprehensive victory. He ended the match with 6-107 on his debut after taking 2-47 in the first innings.
Andy McBrine hit 52 to help Ireland survive in the first session and gave the side a glimmer of hope to avoid the innings defeat. Taijul Islam removed overnight batter Matthew Humphreys early in the day for 16 as Bangladesh looked to wrap up the victory in quick fashion. But McBrine and captain Andy Balbirnie added 66 runs for the sixth wicket, which was broken when Murad trapped Balbirnie leg-before for 38.
Nahid Rana then ended McBrine's resistance, undoing him with a short-pitched delivery that he only fended to Hasan Murad immediately after the lunch session. While a victory looked imminent, the Irish lower order made Bangladesh bowlers toil for every wicket. Jordan Neill made 36 and Barry McCarthy scored 25 as Ireland went past the 250-run mark before Murad further broke through with the wicket of Neill, ending a 54-run ninth-wicket partnership. Taijul, who grabbed 3-84, wrapped up the Irish innings by dismissing McCarthy.
Earlier, Ireland rode on Paul Stirling (60) and Cade Carmichael (59) to put up 286 in the first innings before being bowled out. Bangladesh responded with solid batting-Mahmudul Hasan Joy hitting his career-best 171 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto playing a fluent 100-run knock, steering the side to 587-8 declared with a massive 301-run lead. The first four Bangladesh batters scored 80-plus runs, with Shadman Islam adding 80 and Mominul Haque making 82-for the first instance in Bangladesh's Test history. The second and final Test, which will be the 100th Test of Mushfiqur Rahim as the first Bangladesh cricketer to reach the milestone, begins on November 19 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
