One-off Test, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Day 3 of 5) |
Afghanistan 155 I Zadran 53; Adair 5-39 & 218 Hashmatullah 55; Young 3-24 |
Ireland 263 Stirling 52; Akbar 5-64 & 111-4 Balbirnie 58*; N Zadran 2-30 |
Ireland won by six wickets |
Ireland have earned a first men’s Test victory at the eighth attempt after beating Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in their second innings to leave Ireland with a victory target of 111.
The Irish were wobbling on 39-4 before captain Andrew Balbirnie steered his side home with an unbeaten 58.
It’s a landmark day for Irish men’s cricket, chalking up a maiden five-day win after gaining Test status in 2017.
Ireland made 263 in reply to Afghanistan’s 155 to hold a first innings lead of 108 at the Tolerance Oval.
Afghanistan started day three on 134-3 and with a 26-run advantage but an in-form Irish attack bowled them out for 218 with Craig Young, Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy each taking three wickets.
It was a small…