• sportzyverse
• Cricket news, WTC 23-25
• 03/02/2024
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Ireland clinched a historic Test match victory today, triumphing over Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi. This significant win comes almost six years after Ireland’s inaugural Test match in 2017. In a riveting contest that concluded before the third day’s close, Andrew Balbirnie’s unbeaten half-century proved pivotal in the fourth-innings chase.

After restricting Afghanistan to 218 before Tea, Ireland faced early setbacks in their pursuit of 111. Naveed Zadran rattled the Irish top order, dismissing Peter Moor and Curtis Campher in successive balls. Nijat Masood added to the challenge by claiming a faint edge off Harry Tector’s bat. Ireland was in dire straits at 39-4 when Zia-ur-Rehman had Paul Stirling caught at slip in the third over post-Tea.

Balbirnie, Tucker set foundation for historic win

Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker formed an unbroken partnership that steered Ireland to a comfortable victory despite the precarious situation. This triumph marks Ireland’s maiden Test win, a testament to their resilience and progress in the format.

This Abu Dhabi clash was Ireland’s eighth men’s Test match since attaining full membership in 2017. Commencing their Test journey against Pakistan in Malahide a year later, Afghanistan became their second opponent in 2019. In their initial encounter, Ireland suffered a seven-wicket defeat in Dehradun.

Over the last 12 months, Ireland has participated in five test matches, including encounters against England, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. While they faced setbacks against Sri Lanka in April last year, losing both matches by over an innings, the recent victory against Afghanistan reflects Ireland’s growing prowess in Test cricket. Andrew Balbirnie, captaining in his fifth Test, played a pivotal role in guiding Ireland to this historic triumph.

Earlier in the match, Mark Adair showcased brilliance by securing his first Test five-wicket haul, contributing significantly to bowling Afghanistan out in their first innings. Adair’s outstanding figures of 8-95 stand as the best match performance by an Ireland bowler in Test cricket, adding another milestone to Ireland’s remarkable Test journey.