Ireland trail Afghanistan by 55 runs after first day of play in one-off Test

Electing to bat first on the opening day of the one-off Test against Ireland at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Afghanistan were shot out for 155 while Ireland ended at 100 for four at close of play.

Opener Ibrahim Zadran was the top scorer for Afghanistan with an innings of 53 off 83 balls that included nine fours. Karim Janat, in the middle order, chipped in with a useful 41 not out.

“The wicket was not easy in the first 10-15 overs,” Zadran said at the end of the day.

“I wanted to take time by not chasing every ball. Focus was on watching the ball. I wanted to go longer to be honest, I told myself not to throw my wicket.

“I think we are in a good position. We will try to get them out early, put good partnerships and a total on the board.”

The Test in Abu Dhabi this week will be followed by three ODIs and three T20Is.

Much of the squad is similar to the one picked for the Sri Lanka tour but while Rashid Khan moves closer to a return, Afghanistan remain without him for now.

There was a late change of venue for this Test match. Originally scheduled for the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, the game will now be played at the Tolerance Oval adjacent to the bigger ground.

A press release confirmed that the change was because the Sheikh Zayed Stadium will instead be hosting the Abu Dhabi Schools Sports Championship, between March 1 and 3.

Ireland, who selected their initial squad on the assumption the Sheikh Zayed Stadium doesn’t take too much red-ball turn, only learned of the change after arriving in the UAE.
With this being the first Test at the Oval, conditions are a bit of a mystery, though weather is not expected to play spoilsport, ESPNcricinfo reported.