Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim epitomized Bangladesh's aspiration of playing attacking brand of cricket to keep Ireland at bay at lunch on day two of the one-off cricket Test at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, reports BSS.
Scoring runs almost six per over, they shared 130 runs for the undefeated fourth wicket stand after Bangladesh were left to a troublesome 40-3.
At lunch, Bangladesh reached 170-3, trailing by just 44 runs as Ireland were bowled out for 214 in its first innings.
Shakib was not out on 74, his run-a-ball-inning was studded by a dozen of boundaries while Mushfiqur Rahim was on 53 off 77 after hammering six fours and one six.
Resuming the day at 34-2, Bangladesh lost Mominul Haque for 17 in just third over of the day when pacer Mark Adair (2-18) clean bowled him with a delivery that moved slightly.
That was the only success of the Irish bowlers in that session as Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim then came down heavily on them to establish a full control.
Shakib started with a boundary in the first ball, driving Adair's half-volley through cover and didn't look back.
He raised his 31st fifty off just 45 balls, whipping a turning delivery of legspinner Ben White for four through long on.
Mushfiqur Rahim played with caution in contrast to Shakib's aggressive approach but as the time progressed he also unleashed some powerful shots to start dominating the Irish bowlers.
He swept offspinner Harry Tector for a boundary through backward square leg to reach his 26th half-century from 69 deliveries.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
