Ireland on top despite Zia-ur-Rehman’s heroics

Zia-ur-Rehman bagged a five-wicket haul but the advantage was still with Ireland at the end of Day 2 of the one-off Test at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi. Ireland finished with a first-innings total of 263, thanks to Paul Stirling’s half-century and useful contributions from the lower order, to take a handy 108-run lead. Afghanistan came up with a better batting effort in their second essay as they ended the day at 134/3, leading by 26 runs.

Ireland began the second day’s play at 100/4, having bowled Afghanistan out for 155 on the opening day. They were put under more pressure when Naveed Zadran dismissed Harry Tector for 32 early in the day. Stirling was on 8 at that stage and he went on to make 52, which included eight fours. He received good support from Lorcan Tucker as they added 80 for the sixth wicket, spending more than 22 overs at the crease.

The partnership finally came to an end on the brink of Lunch when Stirling was bowled by Zahir Khan, with the ball spinning away from him to strike the stumps. Ireland’s lower order came up with stubborn stands to frustrate Afghanistan after the break. Tucker and Andy McBrine added 30 before the former fell four short of a half-century, becoming Zia’s third scalp. Zia also picked up the wickets of Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy to bag a fifer in his maiden Test. Andy McBrine was the last to depart after scoring 38 as Ireland finished with a 100-plus lead.

Mark Adair, Ireland’s star with the ball in the first innings, got an early breakthrough in the second innings as he ended Ibrahim Zadran’s stay and also picked up the wicket of Rahmat Shah to leave Afghanistan struggling at 38/2. Hashmatullah Shahidi and Noor Ali Zadran led the recovery with a 55-run partnership before the latter fell to McCarthy on 32.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz launched a counterattack, striking sixes off McBrine and McCarthy while Shahidi registered a patient fifty. Both batters were unbeaten at Stumps, having extended their partnership to 41, and will be the key on Day 3 as Afghanistan look to give Ireland a challenging target.

Brief scores:
Afghanistan 155 & 134/3 in 37 overs ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 53*, Noor Ali Zadran 32, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 23*; Mark Adair 2-23) lead  Ireland 263 in 83.4 overs (Paul Stirling 52, Lorcan Tucker 46, Curtis Campher 49,Harry Tector 32, Andy McBrine 38 ; Zia-ur-Rehman 5-64, Naveed Zadran 3-59) ,by 26 runs.