**One-off Test, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Day 3 of 5)**
**Afghanistan 155** I Zadran 53; Adair 5-39 & **218** Hashmatullah 55; Young 3-24
**Ireland 263** Stirling 52; Akbar 5-64 & **111-4** Balbirnie 58\*; N Zadran 2-30
*Ireland won by six wickets*
**Ireland have earned a first men’s Test victory at the eighth attempt after beating Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi.**
Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in their second innings to leave Ireland with a victory target of 111.
The Irish were wobbling on 39-4 before captain Andrew Balbirnie steered his side home with an unbeaten 58.
It’s a landmark day for Irish men’s cricket, chalking up a maiden five-day win after gaining Test status in 2017.
Ireland made 263 in reply to Afghanistan’s 155 to hold a first innings lead of 108 at the Tolerance Oval.
Afghanistan started day three on 134-3 and with a 26-run advantage but an in-form Irish attack bowled them out for 218 with Craig Young, Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy each taking three wickets.
It was a small target for the Irish but two wickets in two balls from Naveed Zadran left them 8-2 before Harry Tector also fell for the addition of just five runs.
Paul Stirling made 14 after joining former opening partner Balbirnie and they put on 36 runs for the fourth wicket.
Lorcan Tucker arrived at the middle with the Irish in trouble but he impressed with an unbeaten 27 while Balbirnie carried his bat to seal an historic victory.
The Irish women’s team registered a victory in their only Test in 2000 and the now the men have made the breakthrough 24 years later.
The men’s team started their Test journey against Pakistan six years ago and lost all of their opening seven matches.
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[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68446580](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68446580)
by I-Love-Cereal