Bangladesh tighten grip with 491-run lead at lunch

Dhaka, 22 Nov- Bangladesh further tightened their grip on the second and final Test against Ireland, extending their already commanding lead to an imposing 491 runs at lunch on Day 4 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Mominul Haque led the charge with a serene, unbeaten 79, while Mushfiqur Rahim, who earlier achieved the rare milestone of scoring a century in his 100th Test, was batting on 44 as Bangladesh reached 280-3 at the interval.

Bangladesh, which posted 476 in their first innings, secured a massive-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, who scored 63 in the first innings, and Mushfiqur then steadied the innings with a composed yet aggressive stand. 

Ireland squandered 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, dismantling the Irish attack and steering Bangladesh into a position from which victory now looks inevitable.BSS