Nabi’s six-for takes Afghanistan closer to Test challenge

Mohammad Nabi returned 6 for 40 to script Afghanistan’s win over Ireland by an innings and 172 runs on the third day of their ICC Intercontinental Cup clash at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground on Thursday (March 30). The result took Afghanistan to the top of the points table and boosted its chances to take on the lowest-ranked Test side in the Test Challenge in 2018 and fulfil its aspiration of becoming a Test nation.

Ireland, bowled out for 261 in 91.4 overs, was asked to follow on. But it could last just 40 overs in its second innings, being dismissed for 104.

Afghanistan, having won the toss, had declared on 537 for 8.

Overnight 170 for 7, Ireland got off to a good start as John Anderson and Andy McBrine added 43 runs. The breakthrough came in the 64th over of the innings when McBrine missed a sweep to be lbw, giving Nabi his second wicket of the innings.

The last wicket stand between Anderson and Peter Chase was worth 21, before Rahmat Shah had Chase caught behind for 16. Anderson remained unbeaten on 61, while Rashid Khan finished with figures of 5 for 99.

Ireland lost its first wicket in the second innings in the third over when Dawlat Zadran had William Porterfield caught at gully. Even though Ireland did not go two down till the 15th over, the pair of Ed Joyce and Balbirnie struggled to rotate strike.

Rashid had Balbirnie caught behind, and Nabi dismissed Anderson and Joyce in the space of four balls to reduce Ireland to 38 for 4.

The spin pair took complete control of the proceeding, finishing with combined figures of 9 for 84 in 34 overs. Zadran bowled the other six overs in the innings.

Rashid got the big wicket of Niall O’Brien in the 25th over, and it was a formality after that. Ireland’s highest partnership of 21 was for the tenth wicket between George Dockrell and Chase before Nabi dismissed Dockrell for 10.

Rashid, who returned 3 for 44, has had a wonderful outing against Ireland across formats over the last few weeks. He finished 33 wickets in nine games.

Asghar Stanikzai, Afghanistan’s captain, who made 145, was the Player of the Match.

With four wins in five matches, Afghanistan has 81 points, while Ireland, the second-placed team, has 80 points in the same number of games. Afghanistan is the only unbeaten side in the competition, with two more matches to play against Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates, currently placed at the bottom of the table. Ireland plays its remaining two games against Scotland and the Netherlands. Afghanistan is currently better placed to finish at the top of the table, but Ireland’s Test hopes are far from over.