Ireland 214 and 292 (Tucker 108, McBrine 72, Tector 56, Taijul 4-90, Ebadot 3-37) lead Bangladesh 369 (Mushfiqur 126, Shakib 87, Mehidy 55, McBrine 6-118) by 137 runs
Ireland set Bangladesh a target of 138 after they were bowled out for 292 on the fourth morning of the Dhaka Test. They batted for 36 minutes, adding six runs to their overnight score of 286 for 8, with Ebadot Hossain taking both remaining wickets. Ireland’s total was built around Lorcan Tucker‘s 108, while Andy McBrine made 72. He became only the second overseas cricketer to score a fifty and take a six-wicket haul in Bangladesh, emulating Rashid Khan.
The home side’s record at the Shere Bangla National Stadium will keep them wary of the fourth innings chase. They have had only one successful chase, and that too only 101 runs against Zimbabwe in 2014.
With his second ball of the day, Ebadot Hossain sent McBrine’s off-stump for a walk. McBrine added just one run to his overnight 71, having struck eight fours and a six in his 156-ball stay. He then had Graham Hume caught behind in the ninth over of the fourth day.
But the previous day belonged to Ireland who staged a fightback. They were teetering on 27 for four at the start of the day, but Harry Tector and Peter Moor steered them out first with a very quiet fifth wicket stand. Tector and Tucker then added 72 runs for the sixth wicket which took them out of trouble, before Tucker and McBrine put on 111 runs for the seventh wicket to pose questions on Bangladesh.
The home side were cramped by their captain Shakib Al Hasan who bowled only six overs on the day. He had taken 2-11 from seven overs on the second evening, but put Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam in charge of dismissing Ireland. It didn’t happen, as Tucker led the charge with a stunning effort himself, adding important partnerships and keeping the Bangladesh spinners at bay. Having begun the third day behind by 128 runs, they finished the day with a sizeable lead, much to everyone’s surprise.
This article was originally published by Espncricinfo.com. Read the original article here.