Bangladesh spinners fight back after Stirling, Carmichael fifties steady Ireland

Spin duo of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3 for 50) and debutant Hassan Murad (2 for 47) helped arrest back control to keep Ireland to 270/8 on the opening day of the first Test against hosts Bangladesh in Sylhet. Opting to bat, Ireland made a wobbly start before a 96-run stand between two half-centurions Paul Stirling and Cade Carmichael lifted them, but a late stutter in second half of the day saw Bangladesh make a strong comeback with the ball.

Skipper Andrew Balbirnie fell four balls into the innings as Hasan Mahmud struck in his first over of the game, trapping the veteran LBW for naught. A 96-run partnership ensued between Stirling and Carmichael where the duo raised contrasting fifties, and made the early jolt seem like a mere footnote in the morning session. Not that the bowlers didn't create chances, but all three of them were put down to allow the Ireland pair to rebuild.

However, third ball into the afternoon session, Stirling was done in by extra bounce. Nahid Rana, who had seen two drops off his bowling in the morning, finally had a wicket as Shadman Islam also redeemed himself post-Lunch. Mehidy then joined the act, striking from the other end to lend Ireland a double blow. Harry Tector was trapped LBW for just one.

Ireland's debutant, Carmichael again got down to repair work and in the process marched to a 110-ball fifty en route a 53-run stand with Curtis Campher before departing. Campher stitched another 53-run stand, this time with Lorcan Tucker, taking their side part the 200-run mark shortly into the final session of the day.

Bangladesh's bowlers, however, struck back. Murad picked his maiden international wicket with the one that turned away sharply to induce an outside edge for first slip. Tucker tried to take him on, and slog-swept the spinner for a maximum before being stumped later in the over to fall for 41.

Miraz picked his third when he sent back Andy McBrine in quick succession to leave Ireland at 222/7 - from a rather comfortable 203/4 at one stage. From there on, another Irish debutant, Jordan Neil, posted a 48-run partnership with Barry McCarthy to ensure Ireland didn't lose the plot completely. The eighth-wicket stand took Ireland past the 250-run mark but the debutant lost his wicket off the final ball of the day's play.

Brief scores: Ireland 270/8 (Paul Stirling 60, Cade Carmichael 59; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3-50, Hasan Murad 2-47) vs Bangladesh