A crucial 87-run last wicket stand between Tim Murtagh and George Dockrell saved Ireland some serious blushes but Afghanistan took ascendancy on the opening day of the only Test between the two sides in Dehradun on Friday. After a positive start, the visitors lost their nine wickets for just 37 runs to be reduced to 85-9 but Murtagh (54 not out) and Dockrell (39) forged a vital last wicket stand to help them eke out 172 in 60 overs. In reply, Afghanistan lost openers Ihsanullah and Mohammad Shahzad but had reduced the deficit to 82 runs. By the time stumps were called the hosts had reached 90-2 in 31 overs. Rahmat Shah was looking good on 22 not out and he had Hashmatullah Shahidi for company unbeaten on 13. Winning the toss and batting first was the best case scenario for Ireland on a surface which was likely to turn from the outset. The elements went their way and they started off like a train with Paul Stirling and William Porterfield adding 37 runs in the first six overs. But what followed wasn’t to script. Stirling took a liking to medium pacer Ahmadzai thumping him for three fours on the trot but it was this aggression that eventually brought about his downfall. Ahmadzai got one to tail away from the opener who ideally should have let it go but chased after it and could only nick it behind to Ikram Ali Khil to depart for 26. All of Ireland’s plans went haywire once Stirling fell as they lost four wickets in the next four overs to be reduced to 55-5. Mohammad Nabi first got into the act removing Porterfield lbw for 9 before Ahmadzai got one to nip back into Andy Balbirnie, who completely missed the line of the ball to see his off stump uprooted for 4. Rashid Khan then came into the attack and he struck gold twice in his very first over. He first deceived James McCollum (4) with a classic wrong’un that breached the defences of the clueless debutant and then had Stuart Poynter lbw two balls later for 0. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Nabi trapped Kevin O’Brien lbw for 12 and then got rid of Stuart Thompson, who spooned a sharp chance to forward short leg for 3. Ireland went into lunch on 69-7 having lost seven wickets for just 25 runs. There was no respite for the visitors after the break too with Andy McBrine inside-edging Waqar Salamkheil back on to his stumps while soon after James Cameron-Dow also departed trapped lbw to the left-arm spinner. That left Ireland tottering on 85-9 and in real danger of being bowled out for a sub-100 score. But, Dockrell and No.11 Murtagh forged a stunning rearguard action to lift Ireland’s spirits. Published in Daily Times, March 16th 2019.