Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
Watch: In the Abu Dhabi Test match against Ireland, Afghan left-arm wrist-spinner Zahir Khan bowled Paul Stirling through the gate.
Afghanistan were bowled out for 155, the second-lowest total by any side against Ireland, after they won the toss and opted to bat in the one-off Test match at the Tolerance Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 55, while Karim Janat remained unbeaten on 41 as Mark Adair finished with 5-39. However, Afghanistan hit back to reduce Ireland to 106-5 early on the second morning despite Curtis Campher’s 49.
From there, Paul Stirling and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker added 80 to put Ireland in the lead. Tucker fell for 46, but Stirling added another 30 with Andy McBrine.
Playing in his fifth Test match, Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Zahir Khan had an ordinary outing. He bowled too many loose balls, and was the most expensive bowler of the innings.
However, just before lunch on the second day, he tossed one up, and made it land on a length just outside the off stump. Stirling (52) had perhaps anticipated the turn, but not the extent of it, and the ball turned into him sharply to clean bowl him through the gate.
McBrine was last out, helping Ireland reach 263 and secure a 108-run lead despite Naveed Zadran’s 3-59 and Zia-ur-Rehman’s 5-64.
Watch Zahir Khan bowl Paul Stirling through the gate:
A dream delivery from Zahir Khan to bowl Paul Stirling 😍#AFGvIREpic.twitter.com/605gJWZbgc
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 29, 2024