Irish spinner Matthew Humphreys has heaped praise on the Bangladeshi side, particularly Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, and Taijul Islam, after the hosts took firm control of the Sylhet Test.
At the end of the third day, the match is now almost entirely in Bangladesh’s favour. The visitors, Ireland, still trail by 215 runs, while Bangladesh’s dominant batting and spin performance have put them well within sight of victory.
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Bangladesh vs Ireland (Sylhet Test) |
| Day | End of Day 3 |
| Bangladesh’s lead | Over 300 runs |
| Ireland trailing by | 215 runs |
| Bangladesh’s key performers | Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, Taijul Islam |
Reflecting on the day’s play, Humphreys admitted:
“Yes, it was a tough day. Even though we were mentally prepared, our batting did not go as planned. Perhaps we didn’t realise that two full days of cricket still remain. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”
On Bangladesh’s overall performance, he added:
“Full credit must go to Bangladesh. They played with great discipline and hardly gave us any opportunities. We just couldn’t build pressure on them. Shanto and Litton’s partnership really pushed us back.”
Speaking specifically about Shanto, the young spinner said:
“Shanto is a top-class player. We knew he could be dangerous. We took two early wickets to put them under pressure, but his stroke play was superb and completely shifted the momentum.”
Humphreys also admired Taijul Islam’s bowling craft:
“Taijul has been outstanding in these conditions. There’s so much to learn from him—especially the way he uses angles. Bowling against such quality spin here is always a real challenge.”
With Bangladesh’s commanding lead and their bowlers in excellent form, the hosts are now on the brink of another memorable Test victory—unless Ireland can mount a remarkable comeback on the fourth day.