Mushfiqur Rahim who smashed 51 off 48 balls following his ton in the first innings, led Bangladesh to a seven-wicket victory, as Bangladesh reached the target of 138 runs losing three wickets in the one off Test against Ireland on Friday.
Held at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh predictably overcome the newcomers in the Test arena but defiant Ireland on fourth day, though it was mostly expected that the Tigers would complete the job on third day.
But Locan Tucker’s 108 and Andy McBrine’s 72 forced the hosts to wait for the win on the fourth day.
However, Ireland, after adding only six runs with their overnight score 286 for eight folded their innings for 292 runs and set a 138-run target for Bangladesh when Ebadot Hossain picked up the wickets in his two successive overs.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who steered Bangladesh with his 126 runs knock to a 369 runs total, came in the crease when Bangladesh was seemingly on a bit trouble losing opener Litton Das and one down Nazmul Hossain Shanto in a short interval, remained unbeaten up team’s victory scoring a rapid 51 off 51 runs .
Besides Mushfiqur, Bangladesh had Taijul Islam's nine wickets haul for 148 runs also deserves some credit.
Tigers chasing a paltry 138 runs started in style with Tamim Iqbal hitting a boundary off Mark Adair in the second ball when Litton Das appeared with a T20 style as well.
Litton Das, who got out after a quickfire 43 off 41 ball in the first innings, was in his similar fashion on the day and could not bring his innings as long as he was bowled for 23 off 19 balls.
But Litton, who came to open the innings (Test) after almost four years, was a bit unfortunate, as Mark Adair bowled him with a short ball. Litton tried to play a pull shot but the ball backlashed off his helmet and the back of his bat, before trickling on to the stumps. Litton when struck a sublime straight loft earlier in the over and smashed three fours quickly before being bowled.
After Litton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto followed him for only four runs just after 11 runs, on the board 43 for 2, then Mushfique joined Tamim, who also scored a patient 31 off 65 balls, left team for 105 runs for three.
Tamim.
After 105 runs for three, Mushfique and Mominul did not allow Irish bowlers to make any trouble when they left the crease after scoring the winning runs.
Earlier following the hundred from Lorcan Tucker, the bowling all-rounder Andy McBrine, who alone destroyed more than half of Bangladesh innings (six wickets), looked taking the responsibility on his shoulder to uphold the Ireland innings to make it bigger. He single-handedly did the job to bring the match to the fourth day scoring a precious 72 runs.
McBrine, who had three wickets in his previous three innings of two Tests and scored 18 runs playing four innings, claimed six wickets and scored 91 runs (19+72) against Bangladesh tipped off to be a big all-rounder.
However, Ebadot Hossain finally concluded the all persistence of Irish batters after taking two wickets in his successive over bowling McBrine’s out to end his rock-steady 72 runs innings.
Ebadot, made the first and most coveted breakthrough with the second ball of his first over of the day when McBrine trying to defend a fuller on off-stump but was beaten and saw his off stumps was knocked back.
After the great relief of having McBrine wicket, Ebdaot did not make it late for finishing touch and this time Graham Hume, long time partner (20 overs) of McBrine tried to steer a delivery on outside the off stump but the ball edged past the bat and Litton took a diving catch.
Meanwhile, Lorcan Tucker would also remember the Test for his debut ton of 108 runs that led Ireland's fightback from 13 for 4 to make 292 in their second innings and to bring the match to fourth day.
