Ireland registered their first-ever victory in Test Cricket with a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the one-off Test match at Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi on Friday, March 1.
After bundling out Afghanistan for 218 in the second innings, Ireland were asked to chase the 111-run target on Day 3 of the one-off Test. However, the visitors managed to chase down the target in a day. Andrew Balbirnie played an unbeaten captain innings of 58 off 96 balls while Lorcan Tucker remained unbeaten at 27 off 27 balls.
Ireland were at 39/4 until Balbirnie and Tucker shared a crucial 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take the team past the finishing line. Following their first Test victory, there was a celebration of joy in Ireland's dressing room.
With their maiden Test victory, Ireland became the second team after Australia, England, Pakistan, Afghanistan and West Indies to win record their first win in longest format of the game in less than 10 matches. Irish team achieved their first victory in Test Cricket in 8 matches.
Additionally, Ireland surpassed India, New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in terms to number of matches taken to earn maiden Test win.
Ireland's journey in Test Cricket
Ireland began their journey in Test Cricket in 2018 when they took on Pakistan in a one-off match at Dublin. The hosts lost by 5 wickets. Kevin O'Brien was adjudged Man of the Match for his performance in the Ireland's maiden Test.
In 2018, Ireland played Afghanistan in a one-off Test at Dehradun in India. Yet again, Ireland failed to record their first Test win as they suffer seven-wicke defeat to Afghanistan. In the following year, Ireland lost to hosts England by 143 runs at Lord's.
Ireland returned to Test cricket five years later and played against Bangladesh in an only match in Mirpur. The visitors managed to post a total of above 200 in both innings but not enough to win the match as they lost to Bangladesh by seven wickets.
In 2023, for the first time, Ireland played the two-match series against Sri Lanka in Galle. However, the tourists lost both matches by an innings and 280 runs and 10 runs, respectively.
That year, Ireland faced England in a one-off Test match at Lord's but result remained the same, losing the match by 10 wickets.
Finally, Ireland's winless streak came to an end when they defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi, becoming 12th full-nation member to win a Test match.
