HAVING A BAL
Captain’s delight after his heroics give Irish first victory at Test level
ANDY BALBIRNIE’S unbeaten 58 helped Ireland seal a historic first Test win as they held their nerve to beat Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi.
A captain’s knock from Balbirnie ensured Ireland broke their Test duck at the Tolerance Oval, after his side were set a tricky 111 for victory in their second innings.
Ireland’s bowlers had made success possible earlier in the day by running through Afghanistan’s batters, perfectly teeing up Balbirnie’s heroics deep into the final session of day three.
“To win our first
Test match, we are absolutely ecstatic,” said
Balbirnie. “We started the Test match really well having lost the toss and the bowling was really disciplined – we showed again in the second innings the way we bowled our lengths when it got a bit flatter for the batters against our seamers. To take 20 wickets in any Test match is a big achievement and it’s only the second time we’ve done it so it’s pretty special.
“With a score like 13-3 you’re one partnership away. When Lorcan Tucker came in, the more time we spent out there the easier it got although there’s obviously a bit of nerves when you’re chasing a first Test win. But I knew if I stayed in there for long
I could see us home. It’s right up there – for me I’ve played a lot of cricket for Ireland but certainly that’s as big a moment for me.
“A lot of players before us didn’t get a chance to play Test cricket so fortunately we’re part of that history now.”
With Afghanistan resuming on 134-3, and 26 runs ahead of Ireland, the tourists knew they required early wickets.
Mark Adair ensured they did that, continuing his superb Test match by removing Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi in the fifth over of the day. Debutant Barry Mccarthy kept up the fine opening with the dismissal of Nasir Jamal.
By the time Craig Young had accounted for first Karim Janat and key man Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the Irish were well positioned.
By lunch Afghanistan were 182-7 and held a lead of 74, which they managed to eke over three figures thanks to the later resistance from
Zia-ur-rehman and Naveed Zadran.
A crucial first Test wicket for Theo van Woerkom managed to break the stubborn eighth-wicket partnership before Mccarthy and Young wrapped up the innings.
With Afghanistan 218 all out, Ireland then set about chasing down their target of 111.
It got off to a rocky start with opener PJ Moor and Curtis Campher both bowled by Naveed Zadran in successive deliveries at the end of just the second over.
Harry Tector fell in the fifth over, leaving Ireland in trouble at 13-3 when Paul Stirling joined his skipper at the crease.
Balbirnie had already successfully overturned a decision on review earlier in his innings and was able to steer Ireland to tea without any further losses.
That changed when Stirling, given a reprieve by DRS the ball before, was heading back to the pavilion with the final delivery of the third over after tea.
That left Ireland 39-4 and still requiring 72 for victory.
While nerves remained frayed in the final session, there would be no further alarm thanks to Balbirnie and Tucker.