Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker performs a shot through the third day of the Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Ireland on the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on April 6, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Debutant Lorcan Tucker turned solely the second Irishman to hit a Test century, ably assisted by Andy McBrine’s unbeaten 71, to guide a tenacious fightback in opposition to Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday.
Ireland reached 286-8 at stumps on the third day to guide the hosts by 131 runs after resuming on a precarious 27-4 in the one-off Test.
Tucker made 108 off 162 balls earlier than falling to the bowling of Ebadot Hossain, with Shoriful Islam taking the catch at further cowl.
The wicketkeeper-batsman hit 14 fours and a six and was brilliantly assisted by Harry Tector and McBrine in partnerships of 72 and 111 to place the strain again on Bangladesh.
“It is obviously pretty special. It wasn’t something that I thought would happen today,” Tucker mentioned.
“We were under a lot of pressure. We tried to take it ball-by-ball and bat for as long as we could. It was very special to get a personal reward.
“The staff can be in an awesome place. We are wanting ahead to tomorrow,” he said.
Tector resumed from overnight for a 28-run partnership with Peter Moor before left-arm pacer Shoriful gave the hosts their first breakthrough of the day.
Moor was gone for 16 but Tector and Tucker staved off further damage with their stand.
Tector departed after he was found leg before wicket off Taijul Islam, but his 56 made him the first Irish cricketer to hit half-centuries in both innings of a Test match.
Tucker brought up his century with a cover drive for four off left-arm spinner Taijul, raising his bat after hugging McBrine.
Mark Adair was next to bat, accompanying McBrine in a 31-run stand before he was removed by Taijul, the most successful Bangladesh bowler of the innings with 4-86.
“No one mentioned Test cricket’s gonna be simple,” said Bangladesh bowling coach Allan Donald.
“I believed they grinded out the day fantastically and sure, as soon as once more, one huge tick to Ireland. They fought exhausting at this time.”
Kevin O’Brien is the one different Irishman to hit a Test century, scoring 118 in opposition to Pakistan throughout Ireland’s 2018 maiden Test in Dublin.
Ireland have misplaced all three of their earlier Tests since turning into a full member of the International Cricket Council in 2017.
