Bangladesh secured a 2-0 victory over Ireland by clinching the second and final Test of the series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The tourists showed tremendous fight on the final day, however, it was not meant to be as Bangladesh managed to bowl them out to a stunning 217-run victory, also completing a whitewash.
Electing to bat first, the Bangla Tigers lost four wickets while scoring 292 by Stumps on the opening day. Mushfiqur Rahim, playing his landmark 100th Test, had to wait
an entire night after being stranded on 99 by the close of play. Litton Das ended the day being three short of his half-century. All four wickets were scalped by Andy McBrine.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 476 on the next day. Litton ended up as the top-scorer with 128 off 192 under his belt. McBrine registered career-best figures of 6/109 in 33.1 overs. The Irish ended the second day after half their batters were back to the shed.
Wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker ended unbeaten on 75 off 171 as Ireland were bowled out for 265 in 88.3 overs. There were a couple of players of the likes of Stephen Doheny and Jordan Neill who were dismissed for 46 off 77 and 49 off 83, respectively. At the end of the third day, the hosts were in a commanding position at 156/1 in 37 overs.
Four half-centuries including one from Mushfiqur meant Bangladesh declared their innings on 297/4 in 69 overs. Ireland were set a massive 509 to win. By the end of Day 4, they were staring down the barrel after losing six wickets. It seemed to be only a matter of time on the final day before Bangladesh would secure the win.
Curtis Campher, who was dismissed for a four-ball duck in Ireland's first innings, stood tall during the run-chase. Although the Andy Balbirnie-led unit ultimately lost the match at the end, it was not without a stubborn resistance from Campher and the lower order players. Taijul Islam and Hasan Murad picked up four wickets each in the Irish second innings.
