Bangladesh completed a dominating victory over their Irish counterparts inside four days as they won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.听
Facing an uphill task of avoiding innings defeat after trailing by 301 runs, the visitors were folded for 254 in the second innings, with debutant left-arm spinner Hasan Murad claiming 4-60.听
This was Bangladesh鈥檚 fourth innings victory against any opposition and, interestingly, second consecutive on home soil. 听They beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 106 runs in Chattogram in April.听
After losing five for 85 on the third day, Ireland showed much resistance on Friday thanks to Andy McBrine鈥檚 52. But the inevitable finally appeared when Taijul Islam had Barry McCarthy caught behind via a successful review in the middle of the second session.听
It was Taijul who struck first on the day to dismiss Matthew Hamphreys, who survived earlier in the first day through a review, was caught at square leg in the fifth over of the fourth day.听
McBrine then added 66 runs in 19.5 overs with skipper Andrew Balbirnie, who came at eight. Murad finally broke the frustrating partnership when Balbirnie was trapped lbw after making 38.听
McBrine, however, continued to fight with the help of debutant Jordan Neill, as the duo got through the first session unscathed.听
After surviving via two successful reviews earlier, McBrine finally fell when a snorter from Nahid Rana proved to be too much to handle for him.
Despite having three wickets in the match, Nahid once again proved why he鈥檚 being considered one of the rare breeds in Bangladesh cricket.听
The last defiance from the Irish side came from Neill and McCarthy as they formed a 54-run partnership for the ninth wicket.听
However, they fell in quick succession in the space of five deliveries. Neill, who made 36 following his 30 in the first innings, was caught at long-off.
This was Murad鈥檚 fourth in the innings to bring his debut match figure to 6-106. 听Taijul then finished things off to scalp his third to finish with a figure of 3-84.听
Mahmudul Hasan, who registered his career-best 171, was adjudged the player of the match.听
The second and final Test of the series will begin at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on November 19, which is supposed to be the 100th Test for Mushfiqur Rahim.听
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