Mushfiqur, spinners put Bangladesh on top against Ireland

Bangladesh took the stranglehold of the one-off Test against Ireland, thanks to a dazzling performance from Mushfiqur Rahim and the spinners on day of the match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Mushfiqur hammered a 126 off 166, clobbering 16 fours and one six as Bangladesh were bowled out for 369 in its first innings, taking a 155-run lead.

Bangladesh spinners then got into act, reducing Ireland to 27-4 and the side's nose in front. Ireland still needed 128 runs to force Bangladesh bat for the second time in the game.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and his fellow left-arm spinner Taijul Isalm shared the four wickets to help the side close in on a victory.

Peter Moor was batting on 10 with Harry Tector, the half-centurion of the first innings on 8 when the bails were drawn for day 2.

Shakib Al Hasan earlier missed out his sixth century by 13, being out after striking a fluent 87. Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 55 and Liton Das added 43.

Ireland offspinner Andy McBrine claimed 6-118 to register his career-best bowling. Pacer Mark Adair and legspinner Ben White grabbed two wickets apiece.

Ireland were bowled out for 214 in its first innings but showed a spirited performance before Bangladesh bounce back to take the control of the game.

Resuming the Day 2 at 34-2, Bangladesh lost Mominul Haque for 17 in just third over of the day when pacer Mark Adair bowled him with a delivery that moved slightly.

But Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim came down heavily on them to establish a full control.

Shakib started with a cover-driven four against Adair and didn't look back.

He raised his 31st 50 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.

Shakib looked all set to reach his sixth century but edged McBrine behind wicket after clobbering 14 fours for his 94 ball-87.

Mushfiqur switched the gear in high mode and completed his 10th Test century and third in the last eight innings off 135 balls, with an outside edge that flew through between wicketkeeper and a wide slip.

Alongside him, Liton Das also dominated Irish bowlers in style to keep the visitors at bay. Ireland's poor ground fielding and lackluster bowling helped their cause indeed.

Liton and Mushfiqur got involved in a mix-up. But with Liton stranded halfway down the pitch, wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker fumbled to give him a retrieve.

However, Lion threw it away one ball later, caught at mid-off for 43, giving legspinner Ben White his debut wicket.

Bangladesh then lost five wickets for just 38 runs to squander the chance to bat Ireland completely of the game.

The rot began with Mushfiqur Rahim who paid the price of playing one shot too many and caught at long-on as he tried to hit a six from a delivery of McBrine.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz meanwhile picked up his fourth Test half-century amid the regular wickets tumbling. He was the last batter out after hitting six fours and two sixes for his 80-ball-knock.

Source: BSS