Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim hit half-centuries as Bangladesh recovered from early trouble to reach 170-3 at lunch on Wednesday on Day 2 of the one-off cricket Test against Ireland. (More Cricket News)
Day 2 of Bangladesh's one-off Test against Ireland saw the country reach 170-3 at noon on Wednesday after overcoming early difficulties thanks to half centuries from captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim hit half-centuries as Bangladesh recovered from early trouble to reach 170-3 at lunch on Wednesday on Day 2 of the one-off cricket Test against Ireland. (More Cricket News)
Shakib was batting on 74 and Mushfiqur was on 53 at the interval after sharing an unbeaten 130-run partnership for the fourth wicket, and Bangladesh trailed by 44 runs after bowling out Ireland for 214 in the first innings.
The fourth-wicket pair epitomized Bangladesh's aspiration of playing attacking cricket, scoring runs at almost six per over.
After resuming Day 2 at 34-2, Bangladesh lost Mominul Haque in third over when he was bowled by Mark Adair (2-18) with a delivery that moved slightly. That was the only success for Ireland's attack in the morning session.
Shakib started with a boundary first ball, driving Adair's half-volley through cover and he didn't look back.
He raised his 31st Test half-century off just 45 balls, whipping a turning delivery off legspinner Ben White for four through long-on.
Mushfiqur Rahim played with caution in contrast to Shakib's aggressive approach. He swept offspinner Harry Tector for a boundary through backward square leg to reach his 26th half-century from 69 deliveries.
Ireland is playing its first test match since 2019 and has six players on debut in cricket's longest format.
The Irish won the toss and elected to bat first on Tuesday but left-arm spinner Taijul Islam dominated on Day 1, claiming figures of 5-58.
Harry Tector made a team-high 50 on his Test debut for Ireland, while Lorcan Tucker scored 37 and Curtis Campher added 34.