DHAKA, Nov 22, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh declared their second innings at 297-4, setting an improbable 509-run target for Ireland to chase in a bid to win the second and final Test and avoid a series sweep.

The declaration came shortly after lunch on Day 4, when Mominul Haque was dismissed for 87, narrowly missing out on another Test century. 

Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 53, becoming only the second player after Ricky Ponting to score a century and a fifty-plus knock in both innings of his 100th Test. Ponting struck twin centuries in his milestone match.

Mushfiqur reached his 41st Test half-century off 78 balls, guiding a shorter delivery from Harry Tector to midwicket for a single. 

Mominul, who scored 63 in the first innings, squandered a chance to convert his knock into a hundred when he was baffled by a quicker delivery from Gavin Hoye.

His dismissal prompted captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to declare the innings early, aiming to give his bowlers ample time to take the 10 Ireland wickets needed to seal the series 2-0.

Bangladesh, after posting 476 in their first innings, had earlier secured a commanding 211-run lead by wrapping up Ireland for 265.

Resuming Day 4 at 156-1, the hosts lost two wickets in the space of six balls, with overnight opener Shadman Islam missing out on a century.

Shadman was dismissed for 78 in the fourth over of the morning session when offspinner Andy McBrine trapped him leg-before with a delivery that turned sharply.

In the very next over, Jordan Neill undid skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto for 1 with a short-pitched delivery.

Shanto, who struck a century in the first Test, registered single-digit scores in both innings of this match despite the run-fest enjoyed by Bangladesh's top order.

Mominul and Mushfiqur then steadied the innings with a composed yet aggressive stand. 

Ireland put down a major opportunity to break the partnership when Mushfiqur top-edged a slog sweep off McBrine on 16, only for Cade Carmichael to drop a straightforward catch at deep backward square leg.

That miss proved costly as the pair grew in confidence and took the lead past 500, sharing 123-run for the fourth wicket.