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Ireland created history in Abu Dhabi as they registered their maiden Test win by six wickets against Afghanistan. On Day 3, skipper Andrew Balbirnie's unbeaten 58 after a batting collapse helped Ireland chase down a lowly target of 111.
Ahead of India and New Zealand
Ireland took eight matches to register their maiden Test win. They are ahead of Test-playing nations Zimbabwe (11), South Africa (12), Sri Lanka (14), India (25), Bangladesh (35) and New Zealand (45).
Afghanistan suffer another batting collapse
On Day 3, Afghanistan resumed batting at 134/3. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz were well set. Adair got the breakthrough early in the first session trapping Shahidi in front of the stumps. He scored 55 runs from 107 balls including five fours. A few overs later, Nasir Jamal got bowled by Barry McCarthy.
Gurbaz pushed the scoring rate with a few boundaries. Karim Jant tried to play second fiddle but Craig Young got his wicket. He scored 13 runs from 39 balls. In his next over, Young did not let Gurbaz score his half-century. The wicketkeeper-batter got bowled after scoring 46 runs.
Zia-ur-Rehman and Naveed Zadran took Afghanistan's score past 200. Theo van Woerkom broke the partnership with the wicket of Rehman (13). McCarthy struck again to dismiss Nijat Masood for a seven-ball duck. Young wrapped up Afghanistan's innings with the wicket of Naveed who scored 25 runs. Afghanistan posted 218 on the board setting a target of 111.
Skipper leads Ireland home after early wickets
In the run chase, Peter Moor's catch was dropped in the first over by Ibrahim Zadran but he could not make the most of it. In his first over, Naveed took two wickets off consecutive deliveries to dismiss Moor and Curtis Campher. Masood in his third over dismissed Harry Tector as Ireland found themselves in trouble at 11/3. In the 13th over, Paul Stirling (14) fell to Rehman as Afghanistan felt that they had a chance.
From 39/4, Balbirnie and Tucker ensured there was no anti-climax to the game. Balbirnie got to his half-century from 86 balls. The unbeaten 72-run partnership led Ireland to a comfortable victory.
What happened on first two days
Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. Despite Ibrahim's half-century and Jant's unbeaten 41, Afghanistan were bowled out for 155. Adair picked up a fifer to help Ireland bowl out Afghanistan in 54.5 overs. In reply, Ireland posted 263 on the board. Stirling scored a half-century whereas Campher (49), Tucker (46) and Andy McBrine (38) made valuable contributions to the score. Rehman picked up a five-wicket haul.
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