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Eire lastly received their first Check match on Friday once they defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi, ending a streak of seven successive losses. Captain Andy Balbirnie led from the entrance with an undefeated 58 as Eire reached their modest goal of 111 within the ultimate session of the third day. Eire had performed their first Check again in 2018 once they have been defeated by Pakistan. “We’re completely excited. We have created historical past. The monkey is off the again and it’s totally particular to try this,” mentioned Balbirnie whose group have been wobbling at 13-3 at one stage.
“Clearly there have been nerves; we have been chasing our first win. You ask this entire group how particular that is. Quite a lot of our guys did not get to play Check cricket. Hopefully individuals again residence need to be Check cricketers.”
Eire are actually the fourth quickest group within the 147 yr historical past of Assessments to clinch a win within the format. Australia took one match to win their first Check. England, Pakistan and Afghanistan took two matches to win their first Check. West Indies took six matches whereas Eire has now taken eight matches. India received their first Check after 25 matches.
We’ll simply go away this right here… pic.twitter.com/BCYZaR7Vxq
— Cricket Eire (@cricketireland) March 1, 2024
Afghanistan resumed their second innings Friday on 134-3 earlier than they have been dismissed for 218.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi high scored with 55 whereas Rahmanullah Gurbaz, making his Check debut, hit 46. Mark Adair picked up three wickets to complete with eight for the match. Craig Younger and Barry McCarthy additionally claimed three apiece.
Gurbaz, higher identified for his flamboyant and explosive shot-making in restricted overs cricket, clubbed the one two sixes of the innings.
Chasing simply 111 for victory, Eire have been in hassle with three wickets down for simply 13 runs with 18-year-old quick bowler Naveed Zadran clean-bowling opener Peter Moor and Curtis Campher, each with out scoring.
Balbirnie denied {the teenager} a hat-trick however Harry Tector was quickly caught behind by Gurbaz off Nijat Masood for 2. Balbirnie and Paul Stirling, who each performed in Eire’s debut Check in 2018, briefly steadied dressing room nerves.
Stirling was then caught within the slips off left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman for 14 as Eire slipped to 39-4 simply after tea.
Nonetheless, Balbirnie moved watchfully to his fourth Check half-century, which got here from 86 balls, ably supported by Lorcan Tucker (27 not out) in a vital profitable partnership of 72.
“I believe the primary day, after we have been batting, we let ourselves down,” mentioned Shahidi.
“The Irish seamers have been bowling very effectively however we threw our wickets away.”
He added: “We’ve some positives. Gurbaz was very optimistic on debut. Naveed had had a superb Check towards Sri Lanka, and on this match additionally he did very effectively.”
Irish quick bowler Adair mentioned he was “buzzing” with the victory.
“Check cricket is fairly tough. I believe we have a extremely good bowling group,” he mentioned.
The 2 groups will now play three one-day internationals and three T20 video games as a part of their multi-format collection.
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