Balbirnie commends spinners after series stalemate

Ireland’s four spinners – Andy McBrine, George Dockrell, James Cameron-Dow and Simi Singh – together took five wickets and gave away just 167 runs in 39 overs to stifle Afghanistan. It left Ireland with a straightforward chase of 217, which they completed with plenty to spare.

Right through the series, Ireland’s spinners have played an integral role in keeping the Afghanistan batsmen under check. Dockrell has led those efforts with eight wickets – the highest from either side – in five matches at 25. “They've all done pretty good,” Balbirnie said.

“James Cameron-Dow has come in and done well at key times, and George, Simi and Scra [Andy McBrine] have all bowled very well. I thought Andy has been really good with his control. They've kept us in the game at times. Conditions haven't been suited to Boyd and Murts, [but] they've still bowled some brilliant spells. But the spinners will be very happy over the four or five games.”

Ireland’s chase was set up by strong partnerships at the top of the order. Paul Stirling teed away with a series of boundaries and put on 57 with his captain William Porterfield, and a further 81 with Balbirnie for the second wicket.

Despite the size of the chase, Afghanistan’s attack had the resources to make it tricky – Mujeeb Ur Rahman is potent and incisive in the Powerplay – but Ireland’s batsmen implored caution against him. Rahman was still parsimonious, giving away just 16 runs in his first spell that lasted six overs, but more importantly, Ireland didn’t concede wickets to him.

“It’s absolutely critical they set a foundation, especially when you're chasing not that big a total,” Balbirnie said of the start. “Mujeeb bowls very well in the first stand, so it’s important that they [Porterfield and Stirling] were able to negate his threat. They put on a fifty partnership, so when you're coming in with only 160 to win, it's made a lot easier, of course.”

Balbirnie himself has played an important role in both of Ireland’s wins this series. On Sunday, he scored 68 and took Ireland to the brink before departing 10 runs away from the target. In the third ODI, he shellacked eight fours and as many sixes to make 145* off 136 balls and ace a chase of 257.

Having finished the series as Ireland’s highest scorer, with 215 runs at 71.66, Balbirnie hoped to be able to replicate those efforts in the one-off Test. “I think it’s been important just spending time in the middle and getting used to the surroundings - the stadium, the seating,” he said.

“We're going to be on one of the wickets we've played on already, so I imagine it will play pretty similar. But if it does play pretty similar, then it will be a challenge against their spinners no doubt. The way our spinners have bowled, though, will give us a lot of confidence going into the Test match.”