Bangladesh Tighten Control as Taijul Islam Equals Shakib’s Record in Mirpur Test
Announcement
Bangladesh strengthened their dominant position in the Mirpur Test after bowling Ireland out for 265 on Day 3 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. The highlight of the day was Taijul Islam drawing level with Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh’s joint-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, both now sitting on 247 wickets.
Ireland began the afternoon at 98 for 5, hoping for resilience. Instead, they were undone by disciplined spin and late reverse swing, still trailing Bangladesh by 211 runs after the Tigers’ commanding first-innings total of 476, powered by centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das.
Background
A brief earthquake tremor caused a temporary halt in play, but the interruption did little to disturb Taijul’s rhythm. He struck immediately after the resumption, removing the well-set Stephen Doheny (46) before bowling Andy McBrine in the same over.
Earlier, Shakib Al Hasan added one wicket to his tally, ensuring the two senior spinners now jointly lead Bangladesh’s Test wicket charts—an iconic moment for the nation’s longest format history.
Industry Buzz
Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker delivered the standout innings for the visitors, battling hard for a gritty 75, while Jordan Neill contributed a crucial 49, briefly unsettling Bangladesh’s bowlers. But once the second new ball was taken, pacers Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed wiped out the tail with clinical precision.
With a massive first-innings lead and Ireland still far behind, Bangladesh are firmly in the driver’s seat and eyeing an innings victory if they enforce follow-on or build a match-winning total in the second innings.
What’s Next
Bangladesh are expected to bat again or enforce pressure strategically based on conditions. Eyes will also remain on Taijul, who now stands on the verge of becoming Bangladesh’s leading Test wicket-taker of all time, surpassing Shakib.
Ireland, on the other hand, face the uphill task of avoiding a heavy defeat while trying to find some positives in their batting depth through Tucker and Neill’s resistance.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Bangladesh’s commanding performance in the Mirpur Test reflects a team increasingly confident in their long-format identity. The dual milestone achieved by Taijul Islam and Shakib Al Hasan highlights the strength of Bangladesh’s spin legacy, while disciplined contributions from the pacers show the growing balance in their attack. Ireland’s fighting efforts from Lorcan Tucker and Jordan Neill offered glimpses of promise, but the gulf in experience and depth between the two sides remained evident. As Bangladesh push towards a decisive result, their dominance in home conditions continues to grow, reinforcing why they remain one of the most formidable Test sides in Asian conditions.