The outcome of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and Ireland seemed almost certain after Day 4, with Ireland six down for 176 while chasing a daunting 509-run target.

For Ireland, opportunities are still a luxury; for Bangladesh, milestones are a testament to endurance and experience.

Hasan Murad ended Ireland's stubborn resistance, picking up the final two wickets in consecutive deliveries to bowl out the Irish for 291 and seal a 217-run victory for Bangladesh on Day 5 of the second Test and seal the two-match series 2-0 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.

IIn his 11 years as a Test cricketer, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has carved out a great career, especially in the context of Bangladesh cricket.

Taijul is now Bangladesh’s joint-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 246 scalps.

Bangladesh’s veteran star Mushfiqur Rahim dedicated his 100th Test appearance, which he made extra special with a ton, to his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Bangladesh have seized control over the Dhaka Test after reducing Ireland to 98-5 and ending the second day leading the visitors by 378 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Accolades were bestowed and heartfelt tributes flowed as Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladeshi to enter the 100-Test club against Ireland in Dhaka on Wednesday. But for the celebrations to feel truly complete, it needed the history-maker himself to produce something special.

Habibul Bashar, who had presented Mushfiqur with his original Test cap in 2005, handed him a special commemorative cap to mark the milestone

Being thousands of miles away from home did not stop Ireland batter Harry Tector from rejoicing in his country’s recent 3-2 win over Hungary in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He was even more excited with the prospect of taking part in the next ICC World Test Championship and hoped it would lead to the resumption of red-ball cricket back home. Tector said all this and more in an interview with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan.

The 38-year-old is set to become the first from the country to reach the milestone when Bangladesh face Ireland in the second Test on Wednesday. 

“I see him at the hotel every morning at 6:15, having breakfast and heading straight to warm-ups."

The Mount Maunganui Test in January 2022, when Bangladesh beat the then ICC World Test Championship holders New Zealand in their own backyard, remains their biggest achievement in the five-day format till date.

Day 3 of the Sylhet Test against Ireland on Thursday began with a couple of setbacks for Bangladesh, as two set batters fell inside 19 deliveries of the start.

Bangladesh batted for just three overs after tea before declaring their first innings on 587-8 with a 301-run lead over Ireland on Day 3 of the first Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Two big partnerships shaped Bangladesh's batting performance on the second day of the first Test against Ireland in Sylhet on Wednesday and although the second one eclipsed the former by two runs at stumps, it was the 168-run opening stand between Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam that really set the tone.

Following Day 1 of the ongoing Sylhet Test between Bangladesh and Ireland on Tuesday, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed -- squad members who weren't picked in the XI -- were doing laps around the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium alongside an unknown face wearing the national team's kit.

Resuming the day at 270 for eight, Ireland were dismissed for 286, facing just 14 balls on the morning of Day 2.

Shanto will return as a leader with renewed purpose.

The newly reappointed Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said that he put the need of the team ahead of his own views regarding captaincy when he decided to return in the role ahead of the two-Test series against Ireland, set to begin in Sylhet on Tuesday.