Saturday 12 May 2018 19:02, UK
Ireland enjoyed a mixed first day of action in Test cricket, reducing Pakistan to 159-6 before the tourists fought back at Malahide.
Boyd Rankin wrote his name into Irish cricketing history as he had Azhar Ali caught at slip to claim their first Test wicket. The Ireland seamers were on top for much of the first two sessions with Rankin, Tim Murtagh and Stuart Thompson claiming two wickets each.
However, Pakistan recovered thanks to maiden Test fifties for teenager Shadab Khan and debutant Faheem Ashraf, who shared an unbeaten stand of 109 to take their side to 268-6 when bad light and rain curtailed play midway through the evening session.
After day one was washed out, the sun was shining on the second morning as Ireland opted to bowl first and had Pakistan rocking after two wickets in two balls left the away side 13-2.
Rankin struck the first blow, squaring up Azhar with a delivery that bounced and moved off the seam to take the edge, skipper William Porterfield taking the catch and when Murtagh trapped Imam-ul-Haq, one of 12 Test debutants in the match, plumb lbw with the first ball of the next over, Ireland were in dreamland.
Asad Shafiq and Haris Sohail battled through to lunch but the start of the afternoon session brought an Ireland onslaught: Thompson had Sohail (31) caught at gully, Murtagh had Babar Azam (14) caught at slip and just as the pressure seemed to be easing, Shafiq (62) pulled a Rankin bouncer straight Andrew Balbirnie at square leg.
Sarfraz Ahmed (20) appeared to be giving the Ireland players catching practice as he guided Thompson's rising delivery to second slip but the Pakistan captain's exit brought Shadab and Faheem together.
Shadab, playing just his second Test, looked the more assured and Faheem was fortune on a number of occasions, not least when he was dropped twice in the slip cordon, but together they led Pakistan out of trouble.
Faheem went to his half-century in the same over he was dropped for the second time, the ball evading both Niall O'Brien and Gary Wilson as the wicketkeeper leapt in front of his first slip, hitting 18 from Rankin's over.
Shadab was not far behind him in reaching fifty but they were not given the chance to extend their partnership any further as the umpires took the players off for bad light shortly before the heavens opened to bring day two to a premature end.
Watch day three of Ireland v Pakistan from 10.55am, Sunday on Sky Sports Mix.
