Bangladesh crush Ireland by an innings and 47 runs in Sylhet Test

With just two wickets in hand and 103 runs still required to avoid an innings defeat, Ireland had a glimmer of hope. The ninth-wicket partnership between Barry McCarthy and Jordan Neill looked as though it might help the Irish side escape the innings defeat. But in the end McCarthy and Neill only managed to reduce the margin of defeat. In Sylhet, Bangladesh under the captaincy of Najmul Hossain Shanto claimed victory by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test.

The outcome of the first match of the series between Bangladesh and Ireland in Sylhet was clear by the end of the first three days. The Irish side, having lost five wickets the previous day, lost a further two wickets in the opening session of the fourth day, creating a likely finish even before the tea break. And ultimately the match ended then. After lunch they could only bat 62 more deliveries. McCarthy was dismissed via review by Taijul Islam, bringing Ireland's innings to an end.

In their second innings, Ireland began the fourth day at five down for 86 after 29 overs. They lost another wicket in only the fifth over of the day. On the last ball of the 34th over Taijul Islam delivered a flighted ball; attempting a slog sweep, Matthew Humphreys (16) mistimed and edged to Sadman Islam. After that dismissal Ireland were six down for 116 in 34.3 overs. Then captain Andrew Balbirnie came in, and with Andy McBrine he put on a 66-run stand in 119 balls for the seventh wicket. That partnership twice looked like it might be broken: in the 47th over McBrine survived two leg-before appeals against Mehedi Hasan Miraz, both decisions overturned on review when his score was 27 and Ireland were six down for 148 after 46.3 overs.

McBrine however was not quite as fortunate as his partner: on the fifth ball of the 54th over Balbirnie (38) was trapped lbw by Hasan Murad. Soon after McBrine followed: on the second ball of the 61st over he was dismissed (52) by Nahid Rana. Then McCarthy and Neill put together a 54-run stand in 56 balls for the eighth wicket. In the fourth ball of the 70th over Neill (36) was caught by Sadman near the boundary off Hasan Murad's bowling. Within one over of Neill's dismissal Ireland's innings ended: on the second ball of the 71st over McCarthy (25) was trapped by Taijul Islam, ending the Irish innings. McBrine's 52 was the top score. Hasan Murad took four wickets; Taijul and Rana took three and two respectively. Paul Stirling was run out.

Earlier, having won the toss and batted first, Ireland had been bowled out for 286 in their first innings. Mehedi Hasan Miraz took three wickets, and Taijul, Hasan Murad, Hasan Mahmud and Rana took two, two, two and one respectively. Bangladesh declared their first innings at 587 for 8. Mahmudul Hasan Joy was named Player of the Match after scoring a highest-of-the-match 171.