Published: May 15, 2018, 12:00 AM (IST)
Edited: May 15, 2018, 12:00 AM (IST)
Kevin O’Brien scored Ireland’s first Test hundred when he reached three figures against Pakistan on the fourth day of their inaugural match at this level at Malahide on Monday.
A two off left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer saw O’Brien to his hundred in 186 balls, including 10 fours — a shot greeted with cheers from a crowd of several hundred.
It was the 34-year-old O’Brien’s first century for Ireland since he made the fastest-ever World Cup hundred by any batsman, off 50 balls, against England at Bangalore in 2011.
Ireland, made to follow-on, were in danger of a heavy defeat when O’Brien, who top-scored with 40 in their first-innings 130, walked in at 95 for four on Monday.
100+ scores in their country's maiden Test match..
165* – Charles Bannerman (Aus) in Mar 1877
121 – Dave Houghton (Zim) in Oct 1992
145 – Aminul Islam (Ban) in Nov 2000
100* – Kevin O'Brien (Ire) in May 2018+ (Local time: 6:15 pm) #IrevPak
+2nd inngs— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 14, 2018
But he retained his composure to complete a fifty off 100 balls — the exact reverse of the figures in his record-breaking feat in India seven years ago.
O’Brien, whose older brother Niall is Ireland’s wicket-keeper, received excellent support from all-rounder Stuart Thompson — the second Ireland batsman to make a Test fifty — in a seventh-wicket stand of 114 that denied Pakistan an innings win in this one-off match.
When Thompson was bowled by leg-spinner Shadab Khan for 53, Ireland were 271 for seven.
Tyrone Kane extended Ireland’s lead to three figures and gave them a chance, admittedly an outside one, of becoming just the fourth side in the 141 years of Test history to win a match after following-on.
Brief scores
Pakistan 310 for 9 dec. trail Ireland 130 all out & 319 for 7 (Ed Joyce 43, Kevin O’Brien 118*, Stuart Thompson 53) by 139 runs
