Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim has joined Ricky Ponting as the second cricketer to achieve half-centuries in both innings of their 100th Test match.Bangladesh completed a 2-0 series sweep against Ireland with a convincing 217-run win in the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.Ireland, chasing a target of 509, were dismissed for 291 in their second innings.Spinners Taijul Islam and Hasan Murad led Bangladesh’s bowling attack. Taijul claimed 4-40 for a match total of eight wickets, while Murad took 4-44 to complement his two first-innings wickets.Curtis Campher stood firm for Ireland with an unbeaten 71 from 259 deliveries. Harry Tector contributed 50, while Jordan Neill and Gavin Hoey added 30 and 37 runs respectively.Bangladesh’s first innings total of 476 featured centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim (106) and Litton Das (128). Ireland responded with 265, before Bangladesh declared their second innings at 297-4.Taijul Islam reached a milestone by becoming the joint-fastest left-arm spinner to claim 250 Test wickets, matching Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath’s record of 57 Tests and 102 innings.Mushfiqur Rahim scored 106 in the first innings and 53 in the second, joining Australia’s Ricky Ponting as the only players to score fifty-plus in both innings of their 100th Test. In 2006, Ponting scored 120 and 143 not out in a Test match between South Africa and Australia.“I would like to congratulate the Ireland team for batting so well, especially in these conditions,” said Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. “Taijul and Hasan Murad bowled really well for us and I’m happy with their performances.”Mushfiqur Rahim was named player of the match in his milestone Test.“I have played 100 Tests so far and I want to play a few more,” he said. “I really enjoy each and every moment. I’m really lucky to represent my country for this long.”Bangladesh had previously won the first Test in Sylhet by an innings and 47 runs.
