AFG vs IRE Scorecard, One-off Test, Day 2 Highlights: Zia-ur-Rehman leads Afghanistan's comeback against Ireland

After being wrapped up for 155 runs in their first innings, Afghanistan have come back strong in the only Test against Ireland and currently lead by 26 runs in their second innings. The Afghani bowlers bowlers including Zia-ur-Rehman and Naveed Zadran, helped their team bowl out Ireland in their first innings.

While continuing to bat from 100/4, Ireland lost overnight batsman Harry Tector early for 32 runs from 73 balls. Paul Stirling put up a partnership of 80 runs from 134 balls along with wicket-keeper batsman Lorcan Tucker. Stirling played a brilliant hand of 52 runs from 89 balls whereas Tucker played a knock of 46 runs from 105 balls. Afghani bowler Zahir Khan cleaned up Stirling whereas Tucker was dismissed by Zia-ur-Rehman.

Afghanistan bowlers lead comeback against Ireland

Andy McBrine put up important partnerships with Lorcan Tucker and Mark Adair. McBrine added 30 runs from 65 balls along with Tucker, whereas he put up a stand of 26 runs from 42 balls for the eighth wicket along with Adair. McBrine was dismissed for 38 runs from 74 balls by Nijat Masood, whereas Adair fell to Zia-ur-Rehman for 15 runs from 20 balls.

Barry McCarthy was also caught in front by Zia-ur-Rehman for 5 runs from 15 balls. Rehman was the most successful bowler for Afghanistan and picked up a five-wicket haul. Rehman ended the innings with 5/64 whereas Naveed Zadran picked up a three-wicket haul. Nijat Masood and Zahir Khan picked up 1 wicket each.

In the end, Ireland were wrapped up for 263 runs in their first innings, gained a lead of 108 runs over Afghanistan, and made a strong hold over the match.

Coming out to bat in their second innings, Afghanistan openers Noor Ali Zadran and Ibrahim Zadran added 24 runs from 39 balls for the first wicket. Noor 32 runs from 72 balls whereas Ibrahim scored 12 runs from 21 balls. Both the batsmen were dismissed by Barry McCarthy and Mark Adair respectively.

Rahmat Shah wasn’t able to do much with the bat and got dismissed for 9 runs from 9 balls to Mark Adair. Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 55 runs from 109 balls along with Noor Ali Zadran for the 3rd wicket. At the end of the day, the Afghani team finished at 134/3 wherein Gurbaz remained unbeaten on 23 runs from 28 balls whereas Hashmatullah Shahidi 53 runs from 92 balls.

Mark Adair has picked up 2 wickets whereas Barry McCarthy has a total of 1 wicket so far at the end of Day 2.

The Afghani team faced a loss against Sri Lanka by ten wickets in their previous outing against Sri Lanka and have not been in the best of form in international cricket. Afghanistan walked in favorites against Ireland in the only Test match, however, the Irish team has given tough competition to Afghanistan and the match stands in the middle.

Afghanistan would look forward to putting up a big score on the board on Day 3 and later dismantling Ireland’s batting lineup in the second innings. However, the Afghani team are definitely missing the likes of Rashid Khan, who has been away from the field due to his back injury.

AFG vs IRE Scorecard:

Brief Scores:

Afghanistan: (Ibrahim Zadran: 53, Mark Adair: 5/39

Ireland: 263 (Paul Stirling: 52, Zia-ur-Rehman: 5/64)

Afghanistan: 134/3 (Hashmatullah Shahidi: 53*, Mark Adair: 2/23)