Mushfiqur Rahim hit an unbeaten fifty that powered Bangladesh to a commanding seven wicket victory against their Ireland counterpart before the tea on the fourth day of the one-off Test at the Sher-e-Bangladesh National Stadium on Friday. 

It was Bangladesh’s highest chase in the fourth innings at their home venue, as their early best was 101 over the touring Zimbabwe in 2014 at the SBNCS. 

Mushfiqur, who bagged his tenth Test hundred in the first innings, made a 48-ball 51 his twenty six fifty while Tamim Iqbal finished with 31, that guided the home side to post 138-3, in reply to 137 runs target. 

Ireland, who made 214 in the first innings, were all out for 292 in the following innings, while Bangladesh were bowled out for 292 runs in their first innings. 

Earlier, in the day’s initial hour, Ireland’s overnight batsmen Andy McBrine and Graham Hume added just 6 runs before Ebadot Hossain claimed them as they resumed the innings on 131-8. 

In reply, the home side lost their top order duo Najmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Das for 43 runs inside the eight-over as they were removed for 4 and 23 runs by McBrine and Mark Adair. 

Tamim and Mushfiqur affixed 46 runs in the third wicket stand to give the Tigers an aroma of victory with more than four sessions to spare as they went for the lunch break on 89-2. 

However, Tamim failed to make his innings long as he was caught at Marry Commins by Adair. 

Then riding on Mushfiqur and in coming Mominul Haque’s bat, the home side reached the shores of their first victory in 15 months, as they saw their last win in red ball cricket against the host New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in January last year. 

Mominul stood on a 22-ball 20.