Tim Murtagh thrashed 54 not out from only 75 deliveries to spare Ireland's blushes on the opening day of the first Test against Afghanistan in Dehradun, India.
Walking out at 85 for nine, Murtagh thumped four fours and two sixes as he shared an 87-run stand for the last wicket with Test debutant George Dockrell (39) to lift the tourists to 172 all out.
Opener Paul Stirling (26) and Kevin O'Brien (12) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures after Ireland had won the toss as seamer Yamin Ahmadzai and off-spinner Mohammad Nabi took three wickets apiece.
Afghanistan went to stumps on 90 for two, with slow left-armer James Cameron-Dow, one of five Irish players making their Test debuts, taking both wickets.
Both teams were playing the second Tests in their history after making their bows in the format last year, when Ireland were beaten by Pakistan in Dublin and Afghanistan were hammered by India in Bangalore.
Afghanistan v Ireland, one-off Test, 15 March 2019, Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun
Ireland 172 (60 overs; T Murtagh 54*, G Dockrell 39; Y Ahmadzai 3-41, M Nabi 3-36) Afghanistan 90-2 (31 overs; M Shahzhad 40, J Cameron-Dow 2-35)
Afghanistan trail by 82 runs with eight wickets remaining in their first innings (End of Day One)
Afghanistan v Ireland, Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
Ireland 172 (60 overs; T Murtagh 54*, G Dockrell 39; Y Ahmadzai 3-41, M Nabi 3-36)
Afghanistan 90-2 (31 overs; M Shahzhad 40, J Cameron-Dow 2-35)
Afghanistan trail by 82 runs with eight wickets remaining in their first innings
