Bangladesh dominated Ireland’s first day back in Test cricket, bowling them out for 214 in the first innings of the one-off Test in Dhaka. Taijul Islam took his eleventh five-wicket haul as the six-man bowling attack kept themselves ahead in most situations. The home side ended the day on 34 for 2, with Tamim Iqbal falling to Andy McBrine off the last ball of the day after looking quite confident for the last half an hour along with Mominul Haque. But McBrine got one to kick at Tamim’s forward press, to take the edge and fly to second slip where Mark Adair took the catch. He had earlier bowled Najmul Hossain Shanto with an in-ducker, the ball taking the inside edge on to the stumps, in the first over. The Ireland players were cock-a-hoop with the late wicket in an otherwise difficult day.
Ireland made 214, their highest first innings score in Tests, batting out all but 30 minutes of the first day’s play. In a batting line-up that had six debutants and playing a Test after four years, it wasn’t a bad effort at the Shere Bangla National Stadium’s challenging conditions.
Harry Tector’s fifty had some delectable shots, particularly his drives down the ground. He also slammed a straight six, but fell prematurely after adding 74 runs for the fourth wicket with Curtis Campher. It was the highlight of the Ireland innings as the pair played some splendid shots in the first hour of the second session. Ireland were at their most comfortable during this time, but it was roughly an hour before things started to change for the visitors.
