Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE PASSED THE TEST
Ireland come up short against Pakistan but skipper Porterfield is left in no doubt his team deserve place at top table
WILLIAM PORTERFIELD feels Ireland proved they belong in cricket’s longest format after their gripping inaugural Test ended in a five-wicket loss to Pakistan.
The 11th nation to compete in the five-day arena were dreaming of a miracle in Malahide when they had Pakistan 14 for three in pursuit of a victory target of 160.
However, an unbeaten 74 for Imam-ul-haq plus Babar Azam’s 59 helped the tourists claim a victory that had been on the cards once they bowled Ireland out for 130 on Sunday.
There have been just three wins for teams following on, and no country has won their inaugural Test since Australia did so back in 1877, yet Ireland flirted with history on both fronts by making 339 second time around.
And having beaten Pakistan, West Indies and England at World Cups, Porterfield felt their spirited performance in Malahide was evidence they deserve their seat at the sport’s top table too.
“The biggest thing was how we fought back in the second innings with the bat – that showed the character we have,” the Ireland captain said.
“It’s something that’s been talked about during big occasions, World Cups. That’s always been known to be there but Test cricket is Test cricket for a reason, it’s there in the name, you do get tested and we were after the first innings.
“To get up to close to 350 showed what we’ve got in the changing-room and the passion that we have for playing our cricket.”
Those who turned up to watch proceedings across the five days included Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
Yet he missed Kevin O’brien (inset) post a century the following day - a feat Porterfield hopes can have a lasting impact for the future of the game in the country. “Hopefully in the next week or two there’s going to be hundreds of little kids aspiring to be Kevin O’brien in backstreet cricket,” he added.
“This Test match will have gone a long way to providing the next generation of cricketers, I’m sure.”