Dominant Bangladesh complete innings win in Sylhet
Bangladesh wrapped up a mammoth win against Ireland by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test in Sylhet. Riding on Mahmudul Hasan Joy's 171 and Najmul Hossain Shanto's 100, Bangladesh scored 587 for 8. A collective bowling effort saw off the Irish threat with the visitors bowled out for 286 and 254 in their two innings.
The two teams came into Day 4 with Bangladesh firmly in the driver's seat, needing only five wickets to seal victory. Ireland began positively with a six and a four in the second over of the day. Andy McBrine was dropped on 8 but Taijul Islam picked up Matthew Humphreys to leave the hosts six-down for 116.
The Irish didn't throw in the towel. McBrine and captain Andrew Balbirnie put on a 66-run stand, with the latter using the sweep to good effect. McBrine survived two DRS calls as the pair nudged the visitors past 150. Just when things were going Ireland's way, Balbirnie was trapped LBW against the run of play, giving the hosts an opening through Hasan Murad. McBrine, playing an innings of grit, moved to his fifth Test fifty on the stroke of Lunch.
After the break, McBrine fell on the second ball of the new session, finding mid-wicket after attempting a pull. Jordan Neill scored three quick boundaries before he and Barry McCarthy took 17 runs off Murad. Murad finally scalped Neill after an entertaining 36 before Taijul sealed the win with the wicket of McCarthy.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 587/8 decl. (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 171, Najmul Shanto 100; Matthew Humphreys 5-170) beat Ireland 286 & 254 (Andy McBrine 52, Paul Stirling 43; Hasan Murad 4-60) by an innings and 47 runs
