Bangladesh are just four wickets away from victory in the Mirpur Test. On the fifth day tomorrow, the Tigers will secure the desired win if they can take the remaining four wickets. At stumps on day four, Ireland scored 176 for 6 while chasing a target of 509 runs. Harry Tector returned to the pavilion after scoring 50 runs. Curtis Campher is unbeaten on 34.
Mushfiqur Rahim, the first Bangladeshi to play his 100th Test, became the 12th player in the world to score a century in his 100th Test. He made 106 off 224 balls with five boundaries in the first innings. National team wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Kumar Das also scored a century in the first innings, making 128 off 192 balls with eight fours and four sixes.
Former captain Mominul Haque Saurav also batted brilliantly in this Test. He scored 63 off 128 balls with a boundary in the first innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed 47 runs off 107 balls with three fours and a six. Openers Shadman Islam Anik and Mahmudul Hasan Joy scored 35 and 34, respectively. With these contributions, Bangladesh posted 476 in the first innings.
In reply, Ireland were bowled out for 265, struggling against the spin of Taijul Islam. Lorcan Tucker top-scored with 75 runs, Jordan Neil scored 49, and Stephen Doheny added 46. For Bangladesh, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took four wickets, while pacers Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed took two wickets each.
Leading by 211 runs, Bangladesh declared their second innings at 297 for 4, thanks to superb batting from Mominul Haque Saurav (87), Shadman Islam Anik (78), Mahmudul Hasan Joy (60), and Mushfiqur Rahim (53).
Ireland were set a target of 509 runs. On the fourth day, they reached 176 for 6, losing their top six batters and heading toward defeat.
On Sunday, the final day of the Mirpur Test, Bangladesh need just four more wickets to win. Ireland, on the other hand, need another 333 runs to claim victory. To save the match, the visitors must bat through all three sessions on the final day. But based on the situation at stumps on day four, Bangladesh are firmly on course for a win.
