Bangladesh ended day four in complete control in Mirpur, driven by Taijul Islam’s superb spell on the very day he overtook Shakib Al Hasan to become the country’s leading Test wicket-taker. Ireland finished on 176 for 6, still 333 runs away from an improbable target of 510.
Ireland collapse again under Taijul’s pressure
The fourth day followed the same pattern as Ireland’s first innings. Their top order once again crumbled against Taijul’s left-arm spin. They were 94 for 5 in the first innings; this time they slipped to 118 for 5.
Taijul struck early, removing Andy Balbirnie for his landmark wicket before trapping Paul Stirling and later dismissing Stephen Doheny. Hasan Murad added two wickets and Khaled Ahmed one, with Harry Tector offering the only resistance for Ireland with a fifty.
This Test, for the first time in two and a half years, will go into a fifth day at Mirpur. Since May 2022, every Test at the venue had finished inside four days.
Bangladesh declare with a huge lead
Bangladesh resumed on 156 for 1 and declared their second innings on 297 for 4, setting Ireland a towering target of 510.
Mushfiqur Rahim, playing his 100th Test, remained unbeaten on 53 after raising four half-centuries across the match. A century in the second innings would have placed him alongside Ricky Ponting as the only batter to score twin hundreds in a 100th Test. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto declared before Mushfiqur could push for the milestone.
The declaration came shortly after Mominul Haque fell for 83, caught at silly mid-off off Gavin Hoey. Mominul, who made 63 in the first innings, looked well set for a century. He had earlier added 123 with Mushfiqur, their second century stand of the match.
Strong foundations from the top order
On day three, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam put on 119 for the first wicket to push the lead beyond 350. Shadman resumed positively on the fourth morning, adding 54 with Mominul before falling LBW for 78 to McBrine.
Shanto’s struggles continued as he departed cheaply again, gloving a Jordan Neill bouncer to slip. But Bangladesh rebuilt quickly through Mominul and Mushfiqur, allowing a confident declaration.
