Afghanistan sealed a historic first Test win as Ihsanullah and Rahmat Shah's 139-run stand underpinned a seven-wicket triumph over Ireland at Dehradun, India.
The nominal hosts were set what was thought to be a tricky fourth-innings target of 147 against their fellow Test newcomers but Ihsanullah and Rahmat broke the back of the chase with an authoritative stand.
Rahmat added to his first-innings 98 with a composed 72 before he was stumped off James Cameron-Dow, running down the track looking for the one big hit to give Afghanistan victory.
Mohammad Nabi was run out off the next ball but Hashmatullah Shahidi thumped his first delivery for four to get Afghanistan over the line, with Test debutant Ihsanullah (65 not out) at the other end.
"It was obviously going to be a tough ask today defending 147, but it was the first innings where it went wrong for us," said Ireland captain William Porterfield afterwards.
"I thought at the time that winning the toss was a big toss to win, and any multi-day game you have to capitalise in the first innings. If we had done that, if we had batted remotely like we did in the second innings in that first innings, then I think it could have been a completely different game.
"Instead you would have been then chasing a score upward of 280 or 300, which would have been a completely different story. But take nothing away from Afghanistan and how they played, they played well throughout the game and came out deserved winners.
"This was our second Test, with five lads making their debut, but I’m very happy with the lads that came in, how they went about the game and how they prepared. You obviously want them to kick on and make big contributions – we just didn’t do that in the first innings and from there you’re always looking at coming back into the game from there.
"However, Afghanistan never let us do that, so you have to give congratulations to them."
