Harry Tector admitted it was “pretty cool” to be the first Ireland player to make a half-century in his first innings in a men’s Test match.
Although he was out immediately afterwards, the lower order maintained his momentum to help Ireland post their highest first innings total in their fourth Test match, and wickets from Mark Adair, in his first over, and Andy McBrine, with the last ball, sealed a very satisfactory opening day in Dhaka.
“It’s a very special achievement and, although I’m only the 22nd to play Test cricket, I’m the 706th to play for Ireland so I feel very lucky to be playing Test cricket and it is an amazing feeling,” said Tector.
“That last wicket definitely makes the day more even, we were shy with the bat but getting two wickets this evening is huge and gives us momentum.
“It means we have a new batter on zero in the morning so that’s exciting and the way that last ball spat is a good sign for us, especially with Bangladesh, hopefully, having to bat last on this wicket.”
Considering that the majority had played only one red-ball match in the last four years, their response was herculean. Indeed, apart from the openers and PJ Moor who, for Zimbabwe, has played more five-day games than the rest of the team put together, the next six batsmen all faced at least 50 balls.
None of them managed to reach 100 deliveries but it will give them great encouragement for the second innings and the upcoming Tests in Sri Lanka.
Lorcan Tucker became the fourth different wicket-keeper in Ireland’s four Tests with Moor, the other candidate behind the stumps, given a specialist batting role at No 6 — one place higher than Tucker. It meant George Dockrell lost out, as he did in Ireland’s previous Test at Lord’s in 2019, while Ben White got the second spinner’s role to McBrine, ahead of Matthew Humphreys.
Openers James McCollum and Murray Commins (5) failed to survive the new ball, leaving Ireland 27 for two after 10 overs and Andrew Balbirnie was leg before sweeping just before lunch.
But the hour after the break belonged to Tector — who looked as if he had been playing Test cricket for years — and Curtis Campher, as they added 56 in 14 overs virtually untroubled, before both were dismissed in the space of 18 balls, with Moor getting a leading edge in between to his eighth ball.
"It was a poor decision in the shot I played,” admitted Tector. “ If I had defended it, it wouldn’t have got me out.”
But the lower order refused to surrender, even against the left arm spin of Taijul Islam who, ominously, took five wickets on day one.
Tucker, Adair and even Andy McBrine, who was out to the pace of Ebadot Hossain trying to repeat the pulled six he had just hit off Taijul, all batted positively and with no little skill which augers well for the days and weeks ahead.
A total of 214 should not be enough for a first innings lead — unless Ireland bowl sensationally well today — but they have 180 runs to play with and how many wickets they can take before their total is reined in will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this match which already looks to be heading for a day four finish at the latest.
Scores: Ireland 1st innings 214 (77.2 overs, H Tector 50, L Tucker 37, C Campher 34, M Adair 32, A McBrine 19, A Balbirnie 16, J McCollum 15; Taijul Islam 5-58) Bangladesh 1st Innings 34-2 (M Adair 1-3, A McBrine 1-13). Close Day 1.