Ireland vs Afghanistan, Only Test at Dehra Dun, Mar 15 2019, Afghanistan v Ireland

RESULT
Only Test, Dehradun, March 15 - 18, 2019, Afghanistan v Ireland
PrevNext
172 & 288
(T:147) 314 & 149/3

Afghanistan won by 7 wickets

Player Of The Match
98 & 76
rahmat-shah
Match centre 
Scores: P Ranjith | Comms: Alagappan Muthu
Scorecard summary
Ireland 172/10(60 overs)
1st INNINGS
54* (75)
3/36 (14)
Afghanistan 314/10(106.3 overs)
1st INNINGS
98 (214)
3/28 (17.3)
2/77 (27)
Ireland 288/10(93 overs)
2nd INNINGS
5/82 (34)
3/52 (14)
Afghanistan 149/3(47.5 overs)
2nd INNINGS
76 (122)
1/35 (13)
65* (129)

Afghanistan collect the trophy for this one-off series. The team joins him to celebrate and it won't be done at the ground either. It's a massive day in their cricket history and things are only going to get better from here. Thank you for your company. See you later.

"Happy. It's a historic day for Afghanistan, for our team and our people," Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan. "We have been playing for a while, we have been playing first-class cricket, so we have that composure. The bowlers were very good, Rashid, Yamin. Now we're going to South Africa for World Cup preparation. We will try out best to play good cricket."

Rahmat Shah is the Man of the Match for his twin fifties: "First of all I'd like to congratulate the country for this win. [Difference between his form in ODIs and this Test]There was a difference in the pitches - the ODI wickets was suitable for spin, this was better for batting. We played session by session and tried to win the match that way. I would like to give credit to the bowlers, they played really well."

12.15 pm "It was obvioulsy going to be a tough ask defending 150. It was the first innings where it went wrong for us," Ireland captain William Porterfield says. "At the time, winning the toss was big, Any multi-day game, we had to capitalise in the first innings. If we'd done how we'd done in the second innings then, it could have been a completely different game. But credit to Afghanistan, they outplayed us. We had a few glimpses. It's only our second game, quite a few lads making their debuts. But you want the lads to kick on and make a big contribution. And once Afghanistan got past us in the first innings, it was always going to be hard. Long tour, we came in from Oman, but playing a Test match, you're never tired."

By matches, Afghanistan are joint second-fastest to a maiden Test-match win, alongside Pakistan and England

Anwar Sahak: "Tears all over my face"

MoonVale: "As an Irish person, I am of course sad that Ireland lost, but congrats to Afghanistan and their rise through the ranks of cricket, good luck going on to the WC and hopefully Ireland can upset the old enemy!"

Anubhab Mukherj: "Being a die hard Afg fan from Kolkata, how I wish i could have been there in the stadium to watch them bath in glory. Lots of love to them."

12.05 pm Both results were possible at the start of the day, but now, bathed in the gloe of the noon-day sun, it seems silly that anyone ever thought Afghanistan would slip today. Rahmat Shah and Ihsanullah batted with great poise, ushering the way to this moment where the entire team is huddled together, shoulder to shoulder, screaming and singing and jumping around with joy

Rupam: "I have been a fan of the Afghanistan cricket team for quite some time now. Really enjoy their game. Congrats for their maiden test win and all the best fron CWC19.. hope they will put up a great show there.. Afg winning a match is bo longer an upset, they have come a long way with some real good display.. from an Indian fan.."

Z. Khan: "Both these teams exemplify what cricket means to its billion fans - cricket is a game of hope, cricket is a game of struggle, and cricket is a game of joy. Congratulations to the Afghans, and I hope for better luck next time for the Irish. At the end of the day, this game has been a celebration of all that is right with the world."

Niamatullah Sal: "Congratulations! What a performance by our brave Afghan team ; yesterday I was so afraid of 4th innings test matches pitches drama. But thanks God that we achieved the target."

Azweer: "Congratzzzzz Afghanistan... WELL PLAYED IRELAND.... "

47.5
4
J Cameron-Dow to Hashmatullah, FOUR runs

a rasping pull shot over square leg, racing away to the boundary and Shahidi will go down in history as the man who struck the runs that brought Afghanistan's first Test match victory. Punches the air in triumph, goes over to hug his partner, Ihsanullah, and they both soak in the moment.

Time for Hashmatullah Shahidi

Abhijato: "I've been a huge fan of these teams - both showed tremendous heart in a fascinating contest here. Congratulations to Afghanistan for their maiden victory, and as for Ireland - The script does not change. Even the Afghans cruise towards their target with ease like Pakistan. Maybe their luck will change when they play a non-subcontinental team ;)? Anderson will be waiting for them in his favourite hunting ground, but the Irish will look to utilise their experience in County. Best of luck Irishmen!"

47.4
1W
J Cameron-Dow to M Nabi, 1 run, OUT

he's run-out! Oooh, this is silly. And he knows it is, walking back, hitting the air with his bat. Having played a deft little sweep shot, he gets greedy and wants two. Fine leg runs back and to his left quickly enough to stop that and the throw at the strikers' end is pin-point too.

Mohammad Nabi run out (Murtagh/†Poynter) 1 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100

Here's Mohammad Nabi. Former captain. All-round awesomesauce.

Sifat Khawry : "I going back to the flash backs of incredible journey of Afghanistan Cricket... Following those matches with associates on radio, Hasti Gul Abid's winning score in Jersey, our first T20 Match with India in 2010 World T20, qualifying to the World Cup 2015, Getting full membership status in 2017 and now this historical moment.. Oh God!! Dont know how to express my emotions!!!"

47.3
W
J Cameron-Dow to Rahmat, OUT

oooh, he's got the worst luck! Missed his century in the first innings by two runs. Falls with Afghanistan three away from a historic win. Poor Rahmat. He did all the hard work and now with the target one hit away, he goes for that one hit, running down the track and being deceived by the change in length from Cameron-Dow. Swings wildly anyway, all across the line, is beaten by the turn and stumped fairly easily

Rahmat Shah st †Poynter b Cameron-Dow 76 (122b 13x4 0x6) SR: 62.29
47.2
J Cameron-Dow to Rahmat, no run

tosses it up on middle, he blocks

Afghanistan need only three runs to win now

47.1
4
J Cameron-Dow to Rahmat, FOUR runs

supremely hit. Rahmat again showing class, slinking deep in his crease to deal with a short and wide delivery and slapping it through extra cover. Doesn't overhit, but always seems to put the bad ball away

Tom: "this has been a superb performance from the Afghans showed that they learnt alot from the India game hopefully they can get some more test cricket and some outside of Asia soon so we can see how they go on a seaming deck as for Ireland they can take plenty of lessons and experience to take with them to the Lords test "

end of over 478 runs
AFG: 140/1CRR: 2.97 
Ihsanullah65 (129b 8x4 2x6)
Rahmat Shah72 (119b 12x4)
Andy Balbirnie 1-0-8-0
James Cameron-Dow 5-0-15-0

Fowzul Aleem Fa: "There will be many more surprises in 2019 World Cup with the emergence of Afghanistan Team"

46.6
Balbirnie to Ihsanullah, no run

nudges a flatter delivery on off stump to square leg

46.5
Balbirnie to Ihsanullah, no run

tosses it up on off stump, he blocks

46.4
4
Balbirnie to Ihsanullah, FOUR runs

turn and bounce but Ihsanullah backs away again, adjusts to the ball's misbehaviour, and slices it behind point for another boundary. Classy batting

Liam: "If I lived in Dehradun I'd be watching this match. Amazing moment for Afghanistan, feeling so happy for them. Also great to see Rashid be successful at this level as an Adelaide Strikers fan..."

46.3
Balbirnie to Ihsanullah, no run

full and outside off, he drives into the covers

46.2
4
Balbirnie to Ihsanullah, FOUR runs

makes room and cuts an offbreak that seems to deny him the room for this shot, and yet Ihsanullah and his spectacular hands, make a mockery of it all

46.1
Balbirnie to Ihsanullah, no run

full and outside off, slices it to cover

Azweer: "True cricket fans are sometimes may not be seen in the stadium... But we will be sitting in front of TV screen or have a mobile with Cricinfo app following the game every ball..." --- yeah, but it would've been nice for the players to see and hear their efforts being appreciated

end of over 463 runs
AFG: 132/1CRR: 2.86 
Rahmat Shah72 (119b 12x4)
Ihsanullah57 (123b 6x4 2x6)
James Cameron-Dow 5-0-15-0
George Dockrell 22-7-58-0

Breado: "Congratulations to both teams. I wish them both much success in the future. " Yep, Ireland have played their part in making this Test match magic. Even now Andy Balbirnie chased a ball all the way to the boundary when an Afghanistan win is basically a matter of time. They've been committed to the cause. They've also been fantastic fighters, as those last wicket partnerships showed.

45.6
J Cameron-Dow to Rahmat, no run

full on off stump, Rahmat keeps it out

45.5
J Cameron-Dow to Rahmat, no run

full on off stump, defends safely

45.4
1
J Cameron-Dow to Ihsanullah, 1 run

fires it into the pads and Ihsanullah is able to flick it through midwicket

Ahmad Feroz Ary: "What a good innings by our brave batsmen, We are proud of them, love from Kandahar."

45.3
1
J Cameron-Dow to Rahmat, 1 run

fires it it outside off, carves it through the covers

45.2
J Cameron-Dow to Rahmat, no run

tosses it up on middle, he keeps it out

45.1
1
J Cameron-Dow to Ihsanullah, 1 run

shortish and outside off, he rocks back and cuts to the right of point

Zalaal: "I'm sure right now in eveey house, shop, office, ministries etc, people will either watch tv, follow cricinfo or listening to radio and will feel proud. thanks cricket for giving us happiness. "

end of over 454 runs
AFG: 129/1CRR: 2.86 
Rahmat Shah71 (115b 12x4)
Ihsanullah55 (121b 6x4 2x6)
George Dockrell 22-7-58-0
James Cameron-Dow 4-0-12-0
44.6
Dockrell to Rahmat, no run

charges down and plonks a tossed up ball back to Dockrell

Zia Ur Rahman: "We (Afghans) are very very happy for this historical victory, I am in my office but watching the match we are struggling in other fields of the life as we do in cricket, congrats to Cricket lovers all over the world. Thanks India for hosting" --- Shame that the ground is absolutely empty though. No one there watching history unfold

44.5
Dockrell to Rahmat, no run

goes back to block a good length ball on leg stump

44.4
1
Dockrell to Ihsanullah, 1 run

full toss on leg stump, Ihsanullah sweeps it powerfully to deep square leg

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
Rahmat Shah
98 runs (214)
15 fours0 six
Productive shot
flick
21 runs
2 fours0 six
Control
90%
A Balbirnie
82 runs (149)
11 fours0 six
Productive shot
cut shot
27 runs
5 fours0 six
Control
91%
Best performances - bowlers
Rashid Khan
O
34
M
7
R
82
W
5
ECO
2.41
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
3W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
1W
SR Thompson
O
17.3
M
5
R
28
W
3
ECO
1.6
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W
1W
1W
LEGOFF
LHB
Match details
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
TossIreland, elected to bat first
Series
Season2018/19
Player Of The Match
Match numberTest no. 2351
Hours of play (local time)10:00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00
Match days15,16,17,18 March 2019 - day (5-day match)
Test debut
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
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Instant answers to T20 questions
Afghanistan Innings
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