Test Cricket: McBrine Fights Back for Ireland, But Bangladesh Cling to 103-Run Lead in Sylhet

Bangladesh remains firmly in control of the Sylhet Test, holding a 103-run lead at the lunch break on the fourth day, despite a resilient fightback from the Irish lower order. The hosts are just three wickets away from securing an innings victory.

Ireland, following on after conceding a massive 301-run first-innings deficit (Bangladesh declared at 587/8), resumed their second innings at 86/5 and battled through the morning session, losing only two wickets.

The resistance was spearheaded by Andy McBrine, who registered his fifth Test half-century (52*). He combined with captain Andy Balbirnie for a crucial 66-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Matthew Humphreys successfully overturned an early LBW decision and showed aggression, hitting Taijul Islam for a four and a six before Taijul eventually dismissed him via a top-edge.

The partnership was finally broken when Hasan Murad dismissed Balbirnie (38 off 63) LBW, though the review showed the ball only clipping the leg stump. McBrine survived multiple LBW scares via review before reaching his fifty, allowing Ireland to end the session quietly.

Ireland's trouble began on the third afternoon when a collapse, triggered by the dismissal of Paul Stirling (43, run out after a lapse in judgment), saw them lose five wickets before stumps.