Ireland remain without a win in Test cricket after Bangladesh secured a seven-wicket victory on day four of the one-off Test in Mirpur.Ireland made 259 for the loss of just four wickets across day three, recovering from 27-4 to spark hopes of an unlikely triumph.Andy McBrine was key to their hopes overnight, resuming unbeaten on 71 having entered at 123-6.However, he was only able to add one to his overnight score, with Ireland losing two wickets for six runs on the final morning.Ebadot Hossain did the damage, sending McBrine’s off-stump cartwheeling before nicking off Graham Hume.Ireland’s 292 was the best total made by a side who had been 15-4 or worse.That left Bangladesh needing 138 to win, but their promotion of Litton Das, sent to blitz some quick early runs, was a sign of a wearing pitch where survival wasn’t easy.He hit 23 off 19 before becoming the first wicket to fall, a sharp bouncer from Mark Adair in the fifth over hitting Das in the helmet and rebounding onto the stumps.One brought two, with Najmul Hossain Shanto undone by McBrine.
He extracted some extra bounce to take the edge, captain Andrew Balbirnie completing a low catch at slip which was confirmed on review.With the target still nearly 100 runs away and two wickets falling in succession, Irish fans were just starting to dream once more.However, Mushfiqur Rahim took the game away from Ireland for the second time in the Test.
He finished unbeaten on 51 off 48 balls, with Tamim Iqbal the only other wicket to fall, miscuing a pull shot off Ben White for Murray Commins to cling on to a steepler.Ireland's Test schedule continues against Sri Lanka, with a two-match series beginning on 16 April.