No.11 batsman makes cricket history with amazing knock

Tim Murtagh had made Test cricket history, top-scoring for Ireland at No.11 in their clash with Afghanistan.

The 37-year-old Murtagh made an unbeaten 54 off 75 balls to keep Ireland afloat on day one, until they were bowled out just before tea.

Murtagh’s half-century made him just the 11th batsman in the history of Test cricket to top-score in an innings as the No.11 batsman.

Funnily enough, Aussie spinners Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar have also achieved the rare feat.

Afghanistan lost their openers but reached 2-90 after Murtagh carried Ireland to 172 on the first day of the one-off Test in Dehradun.

On an eventful day of each team’s second Test match, spinners bagged nine of the 12 wickets.

Ireland left-arm spinner James Cameron-Dow, on debut, had Ihsanullah Jannat lbw and also took a scorching catch off his own bowling to dismiss Mohammad Shahzad (40) in the last session.

Rahmat Shah (22) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (13) were not out when Afghanistan reached stumps, 82 runs in arrears.

Ireland had earlier collapsed to 9-85 soon after lunch against the spin trio of Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and debutant Waqar Salamkheil, who shared seven wickets before Murtagh led the counterattack.

With George Dockrell (39) proving a perfect foil to Murtagh, they added 87 runs and saved Ireland from total humiliation.

with AAP