Bangladesh enjoyed a morning of milestones in Mirpur as Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das both struck centuries on the second day of the second Test against Ireland. The hosts went to lunch on 387 for 5, piling pressure on the visitors after a dominant first session.
Litton remained unbeaten on 103 at the interval, having added an unbroken 77-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was 30 not out. It was Litton’s first Test hundred in over a year and came in his 100th first-class match, adding personal significance to a landmark day for the home side.
The morning had begun with the anticipation of Mushfiqur converting his overnight 99 into three figures. The 38-year-old achieved the milestone on the ninth ball of the day, becoming only the 11th batter in Test history to score a century in his 100th match.
His innings ended soon after, however, when he edged a rising delivery from Matthew Humphreys to Andy Balbirnie at second slip. Mushfiqur faced 214 balls for his 106, striking five boundaries in a typically disciplined effort.
Litton accelerated through the nineties, moving from 91 to 97 with a six before sweeping to his fifth Test century. He and Mehidy produced a flurry of boundaries between the 99th and 106th overs, before settling down as lunch approached.
Ireland endured another frustrating session in the field. Andy McBrine, who ended the morning with figures of 4 for 100, and his fellow bowlers found little assistance from the surface and saw several close shouts go unrewarded. Bangladesh, meanwhile, added 95 runs for the loss of only one wicket, extending their command of the contest.
