AFG vs IRE Scorecard, one-off Test, Day 1 Highlights: Mark Adair and Curtis Campher lead Ireland's dominance

Afghanistan National Cricket Team is hosting the Ireland National Cricket Team in a one-off Test. The game between the teams commenced on Wednesday (28th February). Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi is host to the match between the teams, who are new in Test cricket.

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. But the decision backfired them as they had a torrid outing with the bat. Ibrahim Zadran opened the innings along with his uncle Noor Ali Zadran but it wasn’t a fairytale outing for the family members as the senior Zadran perished for 7 runs off 27 balls, contributing a mere 11 runs for the opening partnership.

Things turned worse for Afghanistan when in the very same over Rahmat Shah was back in the hut for a three-ball duck. Mark Adair was the man behind the carnage as he bowled impeccable lines and lengths and troubled the opposition with some early blows in the innings.

That's Stumps on Day 1!

AfghanAtalan, led by Zia Akbar (2/13) and Naveed Zadran (2/32), took four wickets in the final session of the day as Ireland ended day 1 with 100/4 runs on the board, trailing behind by 55 runs. 👍 #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvIRE2024 pic.twitter.com/fLGpxheW2F

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 28, 2024

Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi then joined hands with opener Ibrahim Zadran and the duo tried to take them out of trouble. They batted well and added 55 runs for the third-wicket partnership. Just when it seemed things were turning in Afghanistan’s way, Ireland came back strongly. 

Barry McCarthy chipped with for his team and removed Afghanistan Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi for 20 runs. The batter played 44 balls in his innings and also hit four boundaries during his stay at the crease but he failed to cash on the start that he got.

Debutant Rahmanullah Gurbaz walked out to bat at No.5 but it wasn’t a fruitful outing for him with the bat. The keeper-batter managed just 5 runs before Nasir Jamal bagged an eight-ball duck and the Afghanistan was left tottering at 89/5.

Opener Ibrahim Zadran slammed a vital half-century but couldn’t continue after that as he fell for 53 runs off 83 balls. With Afghanistan under pressure, Karim Janat played a vital hand for his team and ended with 41 runs. But he didn’t get the desired support as his team got all out 155 runs.

For Ireland, Mark Adair was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed 5 wickets whereas Craig Young and Curtis Campher also picked two wickets each. Their solid effort helped them restrict the opposition to the low total.

What a topsy-turvy first 10 overs!

We lost the Skipper early, then runs flowed, then there was a wicket off a no ball, then a successful appeal overturned a batter given LBW, then runs flowed, then a wicket. Phew.

▪️ Afghanistan 155 (54.5 overs)
▪️ Ireland 41-2 (10 overs)… pic.twitter.com/1XCvKuRMsQ

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) February 28, 2024

AFG vs IRE Scorecard, one-off Test, Day 1 Highlights: Harry Tector helps Ireland end Day on high 

Afghanistan then were off the valiant start with the ball as Navdeep Zadran bowled sensational lines and lengths and troubled the batters up from. He removed Peter Moor and skipper Andrew Balbirnie early and reduced the opposition to 32/2.

Curtis Campher (49) and Harry Tector (32*) then bailed the team out of trouble and added 60 runs together. But the partnership was broken by Zia-Ur-Rehman removed the former just one run short of his half-century. 

Tector remained unbeaten at 30 runs as Ireland ended Day 1 on 100/4. They are 55 runs behind Afghanistan. Navdeep Zadran picked two wickets whereas Zia-Ur-Rehman also bagged two scalps for the hosts.

Afghanistan vs Ireland one-off Test scorecard

Brief Scores 

Afghanistan: 155-10 (Ibhrahim Zadran 53; Mark Adair 5/39)

Ireland: 100-4 (Curtis Campher 49; Zia-Ur-Rehman 2/13)