Playing against Afghanistan in a friendly in Abu Dhabi, Irish fast bowler Mark Adair hit two strikes in four balls and completed his first five overs in the format.
The United Arab Emirates’ Afghanistan-Ireland multi-format tour includes only one friendly match at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and was chosen to bat.
Ibrahim Zadran and his uncle Noor Ali Zadran begin the war in Afghanistan against Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy. After six overs in the Test, Afghanistan were 11-0.
Noor Ali failed to score the first two balls of Adair’s next over, but neither were particularly threatening. He then attempted a drive, but the ball found its way to the outside edge and to Andy Balbirnie at third slip.
Rookie batsman Rahmat Shah missed the next ball. Balbani checked when the fifth ball of the over hit his pads and the umpire did not rule out Rahmat. Replays showed the ball had missed leg stump. On his next throw, Rahmat played on the wrong line and the ball peeled off the stumps and wobbled.
Ibrahim (55) and Shahidi (20) added 55 for the third wicket, but Afghanistan slumped from 86-3 to 90-6, ultimately the second-lowest score in Test cricket bowled out at 155. Karimjanat was stuck in his 40th place
Adair finished with 5 wins and 39 losses, Ireland’s third best Test score after Andy McBrin’s 6 for 118 against Bangladesh and Tim Martyr’s 5 for 13 against England. He was supported by Craig Young (2-31) and Curtis Campher (2-13).
Watch Mark Adair take two wickets in four balls against Afghanistan:
Early blows for Afghanistan! ☝️☝️ Ireland strikes with two quick wickets.
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.#AFGvIRE #FanCode pic.twitter.com/k9fjWBoNPz– FanCode (@FanCode) 2 2024 February 2
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