<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Mushfiqur Rahim shrugged off Bangladesh's mid-innings jitters to hit a quickfire half-century Friday and seal a seven-wicket victory over Ireland in their one-off Dhaka Test.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ireland were bowled out for 292 soon after resuming on the fourth day and Mushfiqur top-scored for the hosts with seven fours from his 51 runs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Opener Tamim Iqbal made 31 and put on 62 runs with Mushfiqur for the third wicket after Ireland saw a glimmer of hope with two crucial early wickets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Liton Das gave Bangladesh a positive start but poor fortune saw him bowled for 23 as a Mark Adair bouncer struck him off the helmet and fell to his stumps, dislodging the bails.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Three overs later, Najmul Hossain was caught by Andy Balbirnie at slip off Andy McBrine after making just four runs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Najmul was initially declared not out by the on-field umpires but replays confirmed a fair catch to leave Ireland jubilant and Bangladesh reduced to 43-2.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Mushfiqur and Tamim denied the visitors further success, taking Bangladesh to 89-2 by lunch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ben White dismissed Tamim after the break but Mominul Haque remained on 20 alongside Mushfiqur to take Bangladesh home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh also had pacer Ebadot Hossain to thank when his two wickets wrapped up Ireland's innings at 292 runs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tourists added just six runs to their overnight 286-8 after Ebadot forced last man Graham Hume to give a catch behind the stumps for 14.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">McBrine added just one run to his overnight 71 to give Ebadot a finish of 3-37.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The visitors were staring down the prospect of an innings defeat on Thursday before debutant Lorcan Tucker became Ireland's second Test centurion with 108.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kevin O'Brien is the only other Irishman to hit a Test century, scoring 118 against Pakistan during their maiden Test in 2018.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harry Tector added 56 to lift Ireland from a precarious 13-4 and surmount a 155-run first innings deficit.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The visitors were all out for 214 runs in their first innings and Bangladesh posted 369 runs in response.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mushfiqur put the hosts in the box seat on the second day with his first innings knock of 126.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week's Test extends Ireland's losing streak in the five-day format. They have now lost all four Tests they have played since becoming a full member of the International Cricket Council in 2017.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ireland next head to Sri Lanka where they will play two Tests in Galle, the first match beginning on April 16. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>