Sports Desk:

Mushfiqur Rahim, playing his 100th Test on Wednesday at the Sher e Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, finished unbeaten on 99 as Bangladesh closed the opening day on 292 for four against Ireland.

A large banner hung across the eastern gallery to mark the historic occasion, its golden lettering celebrating Mushfiqur’s achievement as the first Bangladeshi to reach the milestone. The image on the banner, showing him with a weathered Test cap and fist raised in delight, was taken during his third double hundred. As the sun moved across the ground and its heat eased, the banner’s glow seemed only to sharpen, a reflection of the arc of his long career.

Mushfiqur could not turn the moment into a century but the methodical control that has defined his Test batting was evident throughout an innings that steadied Bangladesh after an uncertain start. Supported by Mominul Haque’s 68 and Liton Das’s unbeaten 47, he guided the hosts into a commanding position by stumps.

Before play, the Bangladesh Cricket Board presented a special ceremony in his honour. Mushfiqur received a commemorative jersey signed by his team mates from both his debut Test and his 100th, while former captain Habibul Bashar handed him a special cap. Several members of the 2005 Lord’s Test team were also in attendance. When Mushfiqur walked out to bat at his familiar number five position, Bangladesh were 95 for three.

In many ways, the scenario matched the story of his career. So often Bangladesh have turned to their most experienced player in moments of jeopardy, and again he delivered. Arriving at the crease in the 28th over, he batted through to the close, facing 187 balls and striking five boundaries. His fifty came with a crisp cover drive after the tea interval and he added an unbroken 90 with Liton.

Bangladesh had stumbled earlier under the spell of Andy McBrine, whose turn and drift unsettled the top order after a positive start. The hosts reached lunch on 100 for three, Mushfiqur and Mominul then rebuilding through a partnership of 107 from 214 balls. Mominul later edged to slip on 68 off McBrine, ending a vital stand.

The morning session had shown signs of early bounce and patches of fresh grass, although openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam handled the conditions with composure. They produced a series of neat strokes, from cover drives to square cuts, to put on 52 for the first wicket. Shadman fell lbw for 35 when he misjudged the line against McBrine. Joy, who had scored a century in Sylhet, played within himself for 34 before he was caught by substitute fielder Barry McCarthy attempting to loft McBrine down the ground. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto struck a straight six off McBrine but was bowled for eight the next ball when he misread the length.