Ireland bowlers impress as Pakistan fight back
dublin — Pakistan were 268 for six after losing the toss when bad light and then rain forced an early close to the second day of Ireland’s inau- gural Test at Malahide on Saturday.
Faheem Ashraf marked his Test debut with 61 not out and teenager Shadab Khan, in only his second match at this level, also hit a maid- en Test fifty to be unbeaten on 52.
The pair had so far added an unbroken 109 for the seventh wicket after Pakistan had been struggling at 159 for six after losing the toss following a total washout on Friday’s first day of this stand-alone match.
Pace bowlers Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin and Stuart Thompson all took two wickets apiece.
Pakistan were 193-6 at tea as Ireland put in a credible performance in their inaugural Test.
Seamers Rankin, who eventually tempted Pakistan’s Asad Shafiq to pull to square leg on 62, Murtagh and Thompson impressed with the ball. Former England international Rankin had the honour of taking Ireland’s first-ever Test wicket when Azhar Ali (4) edged him to second slip in the grounds of Malahide Castle, just north of Dublin.
Imam ul-Haq (7) went the very next ball, to Murtagh, struck on the knee roll and given out leg before wicket, leaving Pakistan at 13-2. With Haris Sohail (31) and Shafiq at the crease, Pakistan rebuilt and did not lose another wicket before lunch.
Shafiq moved to a 107-ball 50 in the afternoon session as his side reached 135-4.
While Rankin took Ireland’s first Test wicket, it was not his first in Test cricket. He dismissed Australia tailender Peter Siddle in the final match of England’s woeful Ashes tour in 2013-14, in what had been his only previous Test.
Earlier, Ireland had a first ball in Test cricket to remember when Azhar took a single off bowler Murtagh. But in the process of doing so, opening partner Iman was injured. Diving to make his crease as Tyrone Kane tried to throw down the stumps, Imam — nephew of Pakistan great Inzamam — collided with the onrushing Niall O’Brien.
After a brief delay, Imam was able to carry on, with no wicket lost. Ireland is the 11th nation to play the longest format of the game after the International Cricket Council awarded Test status last June.