DHAKA, April 4, 2023 (BSS)- Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 5-58 as Bangladesh kept them slightly ahead of Ireland despite the visitors staged a superb fightback late on day one at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. 

Ireland which is playing its first Test since 2019 failed to deal with Bangladesh's much-vaunted spin attack as it was expected.

Offspinner Mehidy Hasan and pacer Ebadot Hossain took two wickets each to complement Taijul's effort as Ireland were shot out for 214 in its first innings. 

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan, a left-arm spinner who holds the record of highest test wickets for Bangladesh, bowled just three overs, much to the relief of Ireland which handed six players a debut in this match.

But Ireland bowlers bowled intelligently to give the side something to cherish as they reduced Bangladesh to 34-2 before the bails were drawn for day one. 

They ended the day on high indeed after taking out Tamim Iqbal, thanks to offspinner Andy McBrine for 20 on what was the last ball of the day. 

Mominul Haque was batting on 12 as Bangladesh were trailing by 180 runs. 
Before the dismissal of Tamim, pacer Mark Adair made inroad in the first over, dismissing Najmul Hossain Shanto for duck in the first over. 

Harry Tector was the top-scorer for Ireland with 50 and Lorcan Tucker made 37 to help Ireland proper past 200 runs mark after being reduced to 48-3. Curtis Campher was the other notable scorer with 34. 

Bangladesh got success in fifth over after Ireland opted to bat first with pacer Shoriful Islam trapping Murray Commins, one of the six debutants of Ireland, leg-before on 5.

Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain had opener James McCollum caught by Najmul Hossain Shanto on 15, ending his shaky stay in the crease.

Captain Andrew Balbirnie and Tector looked confident and the latter made his intention clear to dominate the spinners, hitting offspinner Mehidy HasanMiraz the only six in this session over mid-on.

Tector also hit two fours, all two against left-arm spinner Taijul Islam who looked threatening and found some turn and bounce. 

Taijul, however, reaped the reward of his persistency, removing Balbirnie (16) with one that spun sharply. He reviewed the leg-before decision in vain.

Campher joined Tector and they combined for a 74-run for the fourth wicket stand and things looked ominous for Bangladesh.

Miraz broke through with the wicket of Tector who struck six fours and one six in his 92-ball-knock.

In the next over, Taijul joined the party, taking the wicket of Peter Moor, who is playing his first Test for Ireland after switching from Zimbabwe.

After trying to loft a turning delivery, Moor got a leading edge which was taken with ease by Tamim Iqbal at mid-off.

Taijul then baffled Campher with an arm delivery to put Ireland in troublesome situation.

As it looked Ireland's innings will come to an end quickly, Tucker and Mark Adair resisted.

Tucker stitched two little but important partnerships-34 with Andy McBrine who scored 19 for the seventh wicket and 40 with Adair for eighth wicket. These two partnerships pushed the side's total past 200 runs. 

Taijul however got Tucker and Adair to complete his 11th five-for in Test cricket. Miraz thereafter brought an end to the Irish innings, dismissing Graham Hume for 2.