Dawlat puts Afghanistan on top

Four wickets for Dawlat Zadran put Afghanistan on the front foot against Ireland after the first day's play in Dubai. Afghanistan, the Intercontinental Cup holders, dismissed Ireland for 187 after winning the toss and then reduced the deficit to little more than 100 with seven wickets still in hand before bad light forced an early close.

John Mooney, who was Ireland's second top-scorer with 33, claimed three wickets in his spell as Afghanistan closed on 81 for 3. They appeared to be in a comfortable position, at 54 for 1 inside the final hour of play, but Mooney removed opener Shabir Noori for a patient 29 and then had the dangerous Mohammad Shahzad caught and bowled two overs later.

There were no wickets for Trent Johnston, playing his final match for Ireland before retirement, and no runs either as the 39-year-old made a three-ball duck. The damage had already been done to Ireland's first innings by then, however, as pace bowler Dawlat helped reduce them to 67 for 5. Captain William Porterfield was claimed by Izatullah Dawlatzai for 1 in the second over and Dawlat then removed Ed Joyce and Paul Stirling cheaply, both caught behind.

Mooney joined No. 6 John Anderson with the score on 106 for 6 and the pair combined for 54 runs to add some respectability to the innings. Rahmat Shah, the 20-year-old legspinner who claimed his best first-class figures of 3-36, broke the stand after Anderson had recorded his half-century and Mooney fell three balls later to give Dawlat his fourth.