Afghanistan fight back in tight Test with Ireland

Ireland have been pegged back by Afghanistan in their lone Test in Abu Dhabi despite Paul Stirling's important fifty and a double strike from Mark Adair.

After slipping to 5-106 in response to 155 on Thursday, Ireland eked out a 108-run first-innings lead as Stirling (52) shared 80 with Lorcan Tucker (46), while Andy McBrine (38) also helped himself to useful runs.

Once Ireland were all out for 263, Adair followed up his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings by snaring the edges of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah as Afghanistan slipped to 2-38.

But Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi amassed an unbeaten 53, putting on 55 with opening batter Noor Ali Zadran, who made a doughty 32 before miscuing Test debutant Barry McCarthy to gully.

Shahidi then shared an unbroken 41 with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who sits on 23 not out on his Test bow, as Afghanistan went to stumps on day two on 3-134 and a fragile 23-run advantage.

But Afghanistan will be confident any lead north of three figures will give them a fighting chance on a pitch taking increasing amounts of turn following slow left-armer Zia-ur-Rehman's 5-64 in Ireland's first innings.