Bangladesh are on the verge of a comprehensive innings victory in the Sylhet Test, with Ireland reeling at 86 for 5 by stumps on Thursday — still needing 215 runs just to make Bangladesh bat again, reports the Daily Sun.
After declaring their first innings on 587 for 8, Bangladesh recorded their third-highest total in Test history and their best-ever at home. Ireland, in reply, crumbled under pressure in the final session as debutant left-arm spinner Hasan Murad and Taijul Islam ripped through the middle order.
Resuming the day on 338 for 1, Bangladesh lost both overnight batters early. Mahmudul Hasan Joy (171) and Mominul Haque (82) were dismissed by Barry McCarthy in quick succession. Shanto then took charge, stitching a 79-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim (23) before adding 98 more alongside Litton Das.
Litton scored a brisk 60 off 66 balls with eight fours and a six before being caught brilliantly by Harry Tector. Shanto reached his eighth Test hundred off 112 balls with 14 boundaries before falling soon after. Captain Shanto declared the innings once the lead crossed 300.
Matthew Humphreys was Ireland’s standout bowler, taking 5 for 170 on his debut.
In their second innings, Ireland faltered early. Nahid Rana bowled Kade Carmichael for 5, and Shanto’s sharp fielding ran out Paul Stirling for 43. Taijul Islam then dismissed Tector (18), while Murad claimed Curtis Campher and Lorcan Tucker in quick succession.
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie, who opened in the first innings, did not come out to bat on the second day.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
