Bangladesh v Ireland: Hosts close in on First-Test win after day three in Sylhet

Bangladesh are on the brink of completing a win over Ireland in the first of two Test matches between the sides as they retained control on day three in Sylhet.

The hosts declared on 587-8 on Thursday, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy top-scoring for them in their first innings with 171 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also contributing a century.

Having scored 286 in their first innings, Ireland struggled to 86-5 by the close of play on the third day to trail by 215 runs.

Starting day three with a 52-run lead on 338-1, Bangladesh lost the wickets of Joy and Monimul Haque (82) early on Thursday to lie 346-3 but rallied to build up a first-innings lead of 301 before their declaration.

Shanto’s ton was compiled off just 114 balls, including 14 fours, while Litton Kumer Das’s 60 also helped steady the ship for his side.

Matthew Humphreys was the pick of the Irish bowlers as the slow left-armer ended with figures of 5-170.

Ireland were immediately up against it with captain Andrew Balbirnie unable to open the batting after spraining a finger in the field.

They lost Cade Carmichael, who replaced Balbirnie at the top of the order, for five to the bowling of Nahid Rana in the fourth over to sit 14-1.

Paul Stirling (43) and Harry Tector (18) combined for a second-wicket partnership of 47 but the fall of Stirling to a run out precipitated an Irish collapse as three wickets fell in the space of five-and-a-half overs for just 17 runs.

Tector was dismissed lbw by Taijul Islam, then Curtis Campher (5) and Lorcan Tucker (9) both fell to the bowling of Hasan Murad, who took 2-8 off his three overs.

Andy McBrine (4) and Humphreys (0) were the unbeaten batsmen at the end of the day with Balbirnie expected to bat next.

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