Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie described the landmark test win over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi as one of the most special moments in the history of Irish cricket.
After a shaky start to their second innings on Friday, Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker posted an unbroken partnership of 72 to reach the magic total of 111 and secure a first ever test victory at the eighth time of asking.
Having only been granted test status in 2018, playing their first match against Pakistan in Malahide that summer, the win at the long-form of the game has come comparatively quickly for Ireland - by contrast, it took India 20 years (from 1932 to 1952) and New Zealand 26 years (from 1930 to 1956) to record their first test match victories.
"I think it's right up there," Balbirnie said after the game, before collecting the match trophy.
"There's a lot of talk in world cricket at the moment about the relevance of test cricket, but you ask this whole group about how special this is, and it's right up there.
"For me, I've played a lot of cricket for Ireland. But certainly that's as big a moment for me (as there's been).
The moment.
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) March 1, 2024
And the moments after that.#BackingGreen ☘️🏏 pic.twitter.com/ogu7lEIJ6i
"A lot of players before us didn't get the chance to play test cricket. Fortunately, we're part of that history now. We've got to play and we've got to win.
"I think it's a lot bigger than cricket. Hopefully, we can inspire people at home to want to be test match cricketers.
"To win our first test, we're absolutely ecstatic.
"We know we're not going to get 10-15 tests a year, that's fine. But when we do get an opportunity, we're going to do our best to create a result. And create history.
"We've done that now. It's nice to get the monkey off the back. There was a list coming up on the screen every so often about when the first test win came (for every test nation). It's very special to be part of the group to do that."
Ireland's victory was owed mostly to their efforts with the ball, bowling out the Afghans for 155 and 218, with Mark Adair rampant throughout, taking eight wickets, while both Barry McCarthy and Craig Young took three apiece in the second innings.
It marked only the second time Ireland had succeeded in taking 20 wickets in the match, the previous time being at Lord's in 2019, when the visitors put themselves in a strong position only to be bowled out for 38 in their second innings.
"We started the Test match really well having lost the toss," Balbirnie added.
"The bowling effort was outstanding, just really disciplined. We showed it again in the second innings, in the way we bowled our lengths.
"To take 20 wickets in any test match is a big achievement. I think it's only the second time we've done it so it's pretty special."
Needing just 111 on Friday to claim victory, Ireland started with a violent wobble, falling to 13-3, PJ Moor, Curtis Camphner and Harry Tector all departing early. Paul Stirling could only muster 14 and the tally stood at a shaky 39-4 by tea. But Balbirnie, clocking up a half-century, and Tucker carried it home from there.
"With a score like that, you're one partnership away," Balbirnie said.
"The more we spent time out there, the easier it got. There was obviously a bit of nerves when you're chasing your first win. I knew if I stayed in there for long, I could see us home."
Man of the Match Adair acknowledged that 2023 had been a gruelling year in the test sphere - four matches, four losses - but that their first victory whetted the appetite for more.
"I'm absolutely buzzing. The way the lads put out a few fires at the end, a bit nervy on the way home but it was nice to get us down Broadway and get a win.
"Last year's test cricket was pretty difficult. We found ourselves on the losing side every time. But this is a real stepping stone for us. Hopefully we get back in whites in August time and chase number two."
