there it comes... Irish supporters and the Ireland dressing room up in celebration. Niall O'Brien on air is very proud, as Ireland get their first ever Test win. This is how came the winning run: Tucker closed the face of the bat to clip this length ball angling into his pads, but got a leading edge towards cover, and they took off
Afghanistan vs Ireland, Only Test at Abu Dhabi, AFG v IRE, Feb 28 2024 - Match Result
Balbirnie lifts the trophy for the one-off Test, before his team-mates gather around him and celebrate victory and creating history. Massive moment for a nation which has time and again expressed willingness to play more Test cricket. Maybe this win rings a bell! Here's Sreshth's report from today in case you missed any of the action. We'll catch you soon for the limited-overs leg of the tour, and until then, this is Himanshu signing off on behalf of Raghav and Sreshth! Enjoy the historic day, Ireland fans.
CraigMcD: "Supporting Ireland cricket really isn't good for your blood pressure! Thrilled to get over the line and delighted for Captain Balbo. What a joy to see your country win a Test match."
AJ: "Niall calling those last few minutes leading up to the win cut through the feels like a knife through warm butter. Couldn't imagine someone better to call a fantastic first test win!"
Andy Balbirnie, the winning captain: "I can't [believe this win]. Mark was disciplined. To take 20 wickets in a Test is an achievement, and to do that second time is very special. [At 13 for 3] we were one partnership away. Obviously there were a bit of nerves; we were chasing our first win. It's right up there. You ask this whole group how special this is! A lot of our guys didn't get to play Test cricket. Hopefully people back home want to be Test cricketers. We knew it would be attritional stuff... it's just an all-round performance. We're absolutely excited. You have to look at how busy the schedule is. There's a lot of cricket in the world that is going on. We've created results, and created history. The monkey is off the back. Very special to do that."
Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain: "I think the first day, when we were batting, we let ourselves down. Irish seamers were bowling very well... but we threw our wickets away. The conditions weren't good for batting. From day one, the ball was seaming. Their bowlers were also very disciplined, and bowled in the right areas. We have some positives. Gurbaz was very positive on debut. Naveed had had a good Test against Sri Lanka, and in this match also he did very well. Zia had a five-for [too]. [The first win] is always special, and I congratulate them. We move forward, and learn."
Mark Adair is the Player of the Match: "I'm buzzing. Obviously very nice to get a win. Absolutely chuffed... Test cricket is pretty difficult. I think we've got a really good bowling group. In the last year, we've played a lot of cricket."
Time for the presentations
Stefan: "Many congratulations to Ireland from South Africa!! So well deserved. May this lead to a much fuller Test calendar in future"
Nagraj Todur: "Who will get MoM?" --- Mark Adair, I think, for his eight wickets in the match
Justin Smyth: "So delighted for this Ireland team. They have put so much into achieving this historic Test victory. We have seen history today. Wow."
Sam: "Great captain's knock from Andy Balbirnie. He's probably disappointed a little with the bat so far in his Test career, but fantastic to steer his side to victory and be there at the crease for a historic win"
Raymond: "I think I can open my celebratory Guinness now" --- Boom!
4.34pm They end up waiting months to play a Test - before this one, they had played only seven since 2018 - but they finally get to taste victory in the format. Multiple heads have gone into fulfilling this dream, as Ireland create history. It wasn't all that easy when it had started though, as Ireland required Captain Balbirnie to take his side out of troubled waters. At 13 for 3 in pursuit of 111, there must have been nerves spread out in the dressing room; but Balbirnie, Stirling and Tucker held on, and left Afghanistan wondering what would have been had there been another 50 runs to play with. Hang around for the presentations.
ohh, this is unfortunate, as Afghanistan make Ireland work hard all the way. Short and wide of off, and hacked hard to deep point, and they can only manage three, with the ball being chased back
ahh, he goes driving hard at this full delivery just outside off, but it takes the inside half of the bat to mid-on
fullish and drifting into middle, but turning away. Blocked down from deep in the crease
Just four more...
again he gets across the stumps a bit to paddle sweep this full ball on the stumps to fine leg
ohh, it is still turning, as it lands on a length on middle and moves towards off, and is blocked
ahh, this goes on with the angle, as it pitches on a length on leg, and takes his pad as he looks to clip
full ball on off, and blocked down
Six to win
slog swept to deep square leg! Ireland almost there. Zia tossed it up, and went full around off, but Tucker swung it with the turn away for four
another one which is full and in the channel, as Balbirnie now drives to mid-off
similar to the last ball: full and just outside off, and he drives down to mid-on
this time the length is much fuller, and around fifth stump. Pushed to mid-on
slapped hard to deep third! The ball is short and quite wide of off, as he hacks aerially, with no fielder present at point or backward point
this is full too, but a bit wide of off. Driven to mid-off, and Balbirnie sends Tucker back
fullish delivery just outside off, as he blocks it down firmly
full and straight, and pushed back to the bowler
bowls quicker, and on a length on middle and off. Stabbed away towards point
fullish and flatter on off. Tucked down towards cover
full delivery lands on off, and is tapped down
again he plans his front foot on off, and paddle sweeps this full delivery on middle and off to fine leg. He raises his fifty too, having guided Ireland all the way
1W | 1W | |||
1W | 2W | |||
2W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi | |
Toss | Afghanistan, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2023/24 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match number | Test no. 2532 |
Hours of play (local time) | 10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00 |
Match days | 28,29 February, 1, March 2024 - day (5-day match) |
Test debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |