Ireland fight back to set up possible win over Pakistan

Hosts 319-7 at close, lead tourists by 139 runs

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine during the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 14, at the Foro Italico in Rome. (AFP)

DUBLIN, May 14, (AP): Ireland has an outside chance of winning its inaugural cricket Test after Kevin O’Brien led a second-innings recovery with an unbeaten century to lead Pakistan by 139 runs on Monday heading into the final day.

Hours earlier on day four, the Irish were facing the prospect of an innings defeat but they lost only three wickets in the final two sessions to reach stumps on 319-7 following on.

Even a draw would be a marvelous achievement for a country which was awarded Test status only last June.

O’Brien became the first player to score a Test century for Ireland and Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmed (right), watches as Ireland’s Niall O’Brien plays a shot during play on day four of Ireland’s inaugural Test match against

Pakistan at Malahide Cricket Club, in Dublin on May 14. (AFP)