Ireland is making history at The Village Ground, Malahide, Dublin, where they are playing their first ever Test match against Pakistan.
The 11th cricketing nation to play Tests, Ireland had put in Pakistan to bat first, after the first day’s play was washed out due to rain. Pakistan made 310/9d, with Faheem Ashraf making 83. Ireland collapsed to 130 all out in their first innings and was asked to follow-on by Pakistan.
In their second innings though, Irish batsmen got hold of this Test match batting and one batsman in particular created history.
Kevin O’Brien became Ireland’s first Test centurion and also the fourth batsman to score a century in their country’s debut Test, after Charles Bannerman (AUS) in 1877 against England in the first ever Test match, Dave Houghton (ZIM) against India in 1992 and Aminul Islam (BAN) also against India in 2000.
Kevin O’Brien’s 118* (still batting) has given Ireland a lead of 139 runs and a dream of achieving a Test win in their debut Test. Incidentally, Kevin O’Brien also holds the record of the fastest century in a World Cup match, off just 50 balls against England in Bengaluru, in the 2011 World Cup, a match where Ireland beat England with odds stacked against them, chasing down 327.
The cricketing fraternity was amazed and in awe of Kevin O’Brien’s historic feat and congratulated him on Twitter, on a superlative effort and for etching his name in cricketing record books with a debut century.
Here are some tweets:
No 100 this year will be greater received or applauded more than @KevinOBrien113 .. What an achievement ... this is what happens when we allow the game to grow ...!! #☘️
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 14, 2018
Congratulations to @KevinOBrien113 for scoring Ireland's first Test century, an innings of great concentration and determination against a very good bowling attack. Best wishes to @Irelandcricket !#IREvPAK
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) May 15, 2018
Go big guy! @KevinOBrien113 carving it loads!! ???????? Recall seeing ya bashing it in #Bengaluru with ICC wcup in 2011 Congrats & best to fellas there #Dublin #guinnessflowing ????????
— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66) May 15, 2018
Congrats @KevinOBrien113 for the first test Hundred really happy for you bro a well deserved first Ireland player to make it ????????????????????????????????
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) May 14, 2018
Congratulations @KevinOBrien113 on ur first test ???? @Irelandcricket
— Mohammad Nabi (@MohammadNabi007) May 14, 2018
Huge congrats @KevinOBrien113 on ???? in Test cricket. What a moment for Ireland #IREvPAK
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) May 14, 2018
Congratulations @KevinOBrien113 on your Test ???? a special day for @Irelandcricket #IREvPAK
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) May 14, 2018
What a wonderful feeling it must be to score your country's first test century. That too against a quality bowling attack. Well done @KevinOBrien113
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 14, 2018
Well done kev https://t.co/d7XtB2K8DF
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) May 14, 2018
Well done buddy @KevinOBrien113 amazing achievement again delivering for the country when we needed you. Great day for the lads brilliant knock @SRThompson91 . Huge last day ahead get down to malahide tomorrow people
— Niall John O Brien (@niallnobiobrien) May 14, 2018