Ireland slump to 98-5 as Bangladesh end Day 2 on top

Bangladesh have seized control over the Dhaka Test after reducing Ireland to 98-5 and ending the second day leading the visitors by 378 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Pacer Khaled Ahmed drew first blood by removing Paul Stirling for 27, and after that, the spinners took over, with youngster Hasan Murad leading the charge.

The left-arm spinner playing in his second Test finished the day with figures of 2-10 after 10 overs. His senior partners Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed one wicket each.

With three days still left, the Irish are staring at a second successive innings defeat in the series. Lorcan Tucker and Stephen Doheny, unbeaten on 11 and two respectively, and the tail-enders who will follow, would have to script an incredible fight back on Day 3 to save themselves from the embarrassment. 

Earlier in the day, Mushfiqur Rahim, who was unbeaten on an overnight 99, completed his 13th Test ton on his 100th Test. He departed for 107 while Litton Das hit a 128 as the Tigers posted a daunting 476 before getting bowled out in the second session.

Off-spinner Andie McBrine picked up a career-best 6-109 for the Irish.

Both Irish openers back in the hut

Bangladesh bowlers have sent back both Irish openers in their 20s, reducing the visitors to 63-2 in the third session on Day 2 of the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

Pacer Khaled Ahmed broke the opening stand for 41 by trapping Paul Stirling lbw after he had raced to 27 off 26 balls.

Then left-arm spinner Hasan Murad induced an outside edge off the bat of skipper Andrew Balbirnie to have him caught at slip after making a dogged 21 off 60 balls,

Earlier, Bangladesh had posted a daunting 476 in their first innings thanks to centuries from Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, a half-century from Mominul Haque and a 47-run knock from Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Bangladesh finish on 476

Bangladesh lost five wickets in the post-lunch session to be bowled out for 476 in their first innings at tea on Day 2 of the second Test against Ireland at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

The second session began with Bangladesh on 387-5 with Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz unbeaten on 103 and 30 respectively.

Their sixth wicket partnership ended for 123 runs when Miraz got caught off debutant Gavi Hoey for 47.

Just four balls later, Litton departed for 128 off Matthew Humphreys. who bowled a staggering 50 overs in the innings. 

The tail-enders then chipped in with some small contributions, which included an entertaining 18-run knock from Ebadot Hossain, which contained three fours and a six, but eventually the hosts got bundled out after facing 141.1 overs in the innings.

Off-spinner Andy McBrine, who took twi wickets in the session, finished with 6-109 -- his career best figures.

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim completed his 13th Test century in his 100th Test in the morning session before departing for 106.

Litton, Miraz fall within four balls after innings' 3rd century stand

Bangladesh lost both of their set batters in successive overs, but the team remains well placed on the second afternoon of the second Test in Mirpur on Thursday.

The hosts are on 433 for seven in 130.1 overs in their first innings, resuming from 387 for five at lunch.

Litton Das had been the driving force in the middle order, hitting a six to bring up a century stand -- the third 100-run partnership of the innings -- with Mehidy Hasan Miraz and keeping the run rate healthy.

The right-hander's aggressive approach helped Bangladesh maintain momentum, scoring 128 off 192 balls, with eight fours and four sixes.

Litton departed trying for a big shot off Humphreys. A floated full delivery outside off saw Litton attempt an ambitious stroke over cow corner, only to edge it off the toe-end to Paul Stirling at slip, who held a smart catch.

Four deliveries earlier, Mehidy Hasan Miraz had narrowly missed a half-century, falling for 47 to Gavin Hoey.

The home side won the first Test in Sylhet by an innings and 47 runs.

Litton scores century after Mushfiqur, Bangladesh tighten grip

Litton Das followed in Mushfiqur Rahim's footsteps by scoring a century, as Bangladesh strengthened their grip on Ireland on the second day of the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Bangladesh went into lunch at 387 for five in 120 overs, with Litton Das unbeaten on a classy 103 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz steady on 30.

The right-hander notched his fifth Test hundred and his first since his century against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in August 2024. He reached the milestone with a boundary off Gavin Hoey, scoring 100 in 158 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes.

The crowd erupted as Litton Das completed his century, with applause echoing from both the stands and the dressing room. He acknowledged the ovation by removing his helmet and raising it in celebration. The milestone came off a full ball just outside leg stump, which he skillfully swept fine.

Earlier, Bangladesh stalwart Mushfiqur celebrated his momentous 100th Test by smashing a century.

The right-hander, unbeaten and just one run short of three figures at the end of the opening day's play, completed the milestone in the second over to become only the 11th batter in history to score a hundred in their 100th Test. It was the 13th Test century for the 38-year-old.

Mushfiqur held his nerve against spinner Matthew Humphreys in the first over of the day, playing out a maiden, and reached the milestone on the third ball of the second over from pacer Jordan Neill.

It was a length ball on middle and leg; he shuffled across and glanced it around the corner for a single, sprinting to the other end. A massive roar erupted as he removed his helmet, raised both hands in celebration, and dropped to the ground to perform sijdah. With this hundred, he also drew level with Mominul Haque for the most Test centuries by a Bangladeshi batter.

Accolades poured in as Mushfiqur became the first Bangladeshi to reach the 100-Test mark against Ireland on Wednesday. But for the celebrations to feel truly complete, the history-maker needed to produce something special.

And that is exactly what the veteran delivered.

Mushfiqur's 106-run innings ended when he edged a good-length, turning delivery from Humphreys, poking at it tentatively and beaten by extra bounce. Andy Balbirnie took a one-handed catch diving to his right. The Irish skipper immediately congratulated Mushfiqur, with Paul Stirling and teammates joining in, as Bangladesh reached 310-5. Mushfiqur's 214-ball knock included five fours.