Lorcan Tucker led Ireland’s defiance of Bangladesh in the Dhaka Test, batting out the third day after starting it tottering on 27 for 4. Tucker became the second Irishman to reach a debut Test century, and the sixth wicketkeeper to do so, as his 108 straddled two sizable partnerships to keep them in the hunt. Ireland ended up on 286 for 8, when everyone thought that Test would end early on the third day.

The visitors’ 131-run lead may not look impressive but they have done enough to put questions in Bangladesh’s mind. The home side doesn’t have a great chasing record at the Shere Bangla National Stadium where they haven’t won since 2020. Taijul Islam was the pick of the bowlers again, taking his tally to nine wickets in the match. But Shakib bowling just six overs on the day was a peculiar decision given that he looked fit and fielded all day.

Tucker though matched the Bangladesh spinners in a superb display. His celebration after reaching the hundred found cheers from the tiny crowd who appreciated the young batter’s century. His 111-run seventh wicket stand with Andy McBrine frustrated Bangladesh for 28.3 overs, as Ireland built their innings on the back of partnerships of the third day.

The visitors started the day on 27 for 4 after they lost their first four wickets in the first 6.5 overs. Shakib and Taijul shared those four wickets, and looked menacing. But PJ Moor and Tector negated them for 10.1 overs on the second evening, before continuing in the same vein on the third morning.

Litton dropped Tector on nine in the second over of the day, but that was the only chance that went down. Tector and Moor lasted 25.4 overs for the fifth wicket. They added only 38 runs but it worked as the foundation for the rest of the day.

The pair made sure the early collapse didn’t materialise into anything embarrassing, before blunted the Bangladesh attack at their freshest. Moor fell to the one shot he played away from his body, edging Shoriful Islam at the first hour mark of the day.

Tector then had Tucker for company, and the pair picked up the tempo with some fine shots. Tucker started off with a reverse swept four off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, before Tector cracked a cover drive off Shoriful. Tucker then unveiled two pull shots against Ebadot Hossain, before launching Khaled over midwicket with a flick down the wicket. Tector’s last boundary was a straight drive, before he fell for 56. He struck seven fours and a six in his 159-ball effort.

Their partnership lasted 24 overs, but this time the scoring rate was 3.00 per over, as they added 72 runs. It was the boost that Ireland needed, which was cashed by McBrine and Tucker for the seventh wicket.

Ireland added 106 runs in the middle session, losing only Tucker. McBrine kicked off with a swept four before Tucker’s straight four got them the lead. He hammered Shoriful through square-leg for another memorable shot, before hitting him for another pair of fours in the 70th over.

McBrine wasn’t too far behind, matching Tucker’s straight six for one of his own. Tucker reached his hundred with a cover drive against Taijul, quite apt as he was the constant threat at one end from Bangladesh.

Tucker finally got out when he drove Ebadot waywardly, caught in the covers by Shoriful who let out a huge roar after taking the catch. But even after the end of the big partnership, Ireland weren’t done. McBrine reached his maiden fifty too, adding another valuable 31 runs for the eighth wicket with Mark Adair. Even the way the day ended – McBrine and Graham Hume batting out the remaining 8.3 overs for the unbroken ninth wicket – will encourage the Ireland side to have a go at Bangladesh on the fourth day.

Brief scores:

Ireland 214 and 286 for 8 (Lorcan Tucker 108, Andy McBrine 71*, Harry Tector 56, Taijul Islam 4-86, Shakib Al Hasan 2-26) lead Bangladesh 369 (Mushfiqur Rahim 126, Shakib Al Hasan 87, Mehidy Hassan Mirza 55, Andy McBrine 6-118) by 131 runs (Cricinfo)