DHAKA, Nov 19, 2025 (BSS) - Mushfiqur Rahim closed in on a historic century in his 100th Test as Bangladesh made a dominant start to the second and final Test against Ireland, ending Day 1 on 292-4 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

The veteran batter remained unbeaten on 99 at stumps, while Liton Das was also nearing a half-century, finishing on 47. Mominul Haque contributed 63 runs, adding to Ireland's frustration despite their bowlers maintaining discipline throughout the day.

Mushfiqur anchored the innings, stitching together two significant partnerships-107 runs with Mominul for the fourth wicket and an unbroken 90-run stand with Liton for the fifth.

Bangladesh began solidly after Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bat. Openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam added 52 runs before Andy McBrine, who claimed all four Bangladeshi wickets, sparked a collapse.

Shadman was trapped leg-before by a sharply turning delivery. Initially given not out, the decision was overturned on review, ending his fluent 35 off 44 balls featuring six boundaries. 

Joy, fresh from his career-best 171 in the first Test, looked set again but pressure created by successive dot balls led to his dismissal for 34.

Shanto tried to break the shackles with a six, but McBrine removed him soon after with another sharply turning delivery that rattled his stumps.
 
Mushfiqur and Mominul then kept them unscathed, batting through the entire second session without losing any wicket to swing the momentum back in Bangladesh's favour.

Mushfiqur, patient throughout, reached his 28th Test fifty after tea with a cover-driven boundary off Matthew Humphrey, bringing up the milestone from 109 balls. 

He increased the scoring rate thereafter but soon lost Mominul, who perished to an injudicious sweep shot and departed for 63 off 128 balls, an innings that included only a single boundary.

Liton joined Mushfiqur and further tightened Bangladesh's grip, keeping the Irish bowlers at bay until the close of play.

However, Mushfiqur remained just one run shy of a century, leaving fans eagerly awaiting his return to the crease on Day 2.