BAN vs IRE, One-off Test Review: Ireland succumb to battling seven-wicket defeat in Mirpur

Bangladesh put a halt to Ireland’s third-day fightback on the fourth and final day of the one-off Test between the sides, securing a seven-wicket win in the second session of the day.

Ireland made 259 for the loss of just four wickets across day three, recovering from 27-4 to spark hopes of an unlikely triumph. Andy McBrine was key to their hopes overnight, resuming unbeaten on 71 having entered at 123-6.

However, he was only able to add one to his overnight score, with Ireland losing two wickets for six runs on the final morning. Ebadot Hossain did the damage, sending McBrine’s off-stump cartwheeling before nicking off Graham Hume. Ireland’s 292 was the best total made by a side who had been 15-4 or worse.

That left Bangladesh needing 138 to win, but their promotion of Litton Das, sent to blitz some quick early runs, was a sign of a wearing pitch where survival wasn’t easy.

He hit 23 off 19 before becoming the first wicket to fall, a sharp bouncer from Mark Adair in the fifth over hitting Das in the helmet and rebounding onto the stumps. One brought two, with Najmul Hossain Shanto undone by McBrine. He extracted some extra bounce to take the edge, captain Andrew Balbirnie completing a low catch at slip which was confirmed on review.

With the target still nearly 100 runs away and two wickets falling in succession, Irish fans were just starting to dream once more, with growing encouragement audible in the field. However, Mushfiqur Rahim took the game away from Ireland for the second time in the Test. He finished unbeaten on 51 off 48 balls, taking Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win, with Tamim Iqbal the only other wicket to fall, miscuing a pull shot off Ben White for Murray Commins to cling on to a steepler.

While Ireland is still searching for a maiden Test win, the game will be fondly remembered for many reasons. McBrine claimed Ireland’s first men’s Test six-for in the first innings before showing his value with the bat, while Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker both shone on their long-format bows, the former making two half-centuries and the latter becoming just the sixth Test wicketkeeper in history to make a century on debut.

Ireland’s Test schedule continues against Sri Lanka, with a two-match series beginning on April 16.

MATCH SUMMARY

Bangladesh v Ireland, Only Test

Ireland 214 (77.2 overs; Harry Tector 50, Lorcan Tucker 37, Taijul Islam 5-58)

Bangladesh 369 (80.3 overs; Mushfiqur Rahim 126, Shakib Al Hasan 87, Andy McBrine 6-118)

Ireland 292 (116 overs; Lorcan Tucker 108, Andy McBrine 72, Taijul Islam 4-90)

Bangladesh 138-3 (27.1 overs; Mushfiqur Rahim 51*, Tamim Iqbal 31; Mark Adair 1-30)

Bangladesh won by seven wickets