Bangladesh on the brink of victory after Ireland’s late collapse

Bangladesh on the brink of victory after Ireland's late collapse

A late evening collapse of 4 for 24 left Ireland staring at an innings defeat in the Test series opener against Bangladesh in Sylhet. Skipper Najmul Shanto's hundred and a brisk 60 from Litton Das added to Ireland's woes as Bangladesh declared with 587/8 before Hasan Murad's late twin strikes left the visitors reeling at 86/5 in the second innings, still 215 away from making the hosts bat again.

Overnight batters Mahmudul Joy and Mominul Haque only added two each to their scores before falling early into the day's play on the third morning. Shanto added 79 runs for the fourth-wicket stand with Mushfiqur Rahim and another 98 with Litton.

The Bangladesh wicketkeeper himself chipped in with a 66-ball 60 before the senior pair departed in quick succession just after Bangladesh went past the 500-run mark. The lower-order chipped in with handy cameos to take the side to 587/8 before the declaration came as the lead reached 301. The only moment of solace for the visitors was Matthew Humpherys' fifer, who picked four of the seven Bangladesh wickets that fell today.

Nahid Rana then struck early with the ball to clean up first-innings hero Cade Carmichael on just five. Paul Stirling (43) and Harry Tector (18) tried to repair the damage with a 47-run stand but once the partnership was broken, Ireland failed to rebuild.

Against the run of play, Stirling was run out seven short of a half-century. Taijul Islam trapped Tector LBW soon after. A brief, 14-run partnership later, Murad dismissed both Curtis Campher and Lorcan Tucker for single-digit scores in closing minutes of play to leave the Irish side with a mammoth 215 more to get before Bangladesh are forced to bat again.

Brief scores: Ireland 286 & 86/5 (Paul Stirling 43; Hasan Murad 2-8) trail Bangladesh 587/8 decl. (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 171, Najmul Shanto 100; Matthew Humpherys 5-170) by 215 runs