Ireland 263 (Stirling 52, Ur-Rahman 5-64) and 111 for 4 (Balbirnie 58*, Tucker 27*, Naveed 2-31) beat Afghanistan 155 (Ibrahim 53, Adair 5-39) and 218 (Shahidi 55, Young 3-24, McCarthy 3-48, Adair 3-56) by six wickets

At the time, it appeared Afghanistan's lead would not even cross three digits, but a stubborn lower-order effort from No. 8 Zia-Ur-Rahman and No. 9 Naveed Zadran dragged the team along. Their handy 32-run partnership for the eighth wicket was finally broken when left-arm spinner Theo van Woerkom got a ball to grip and turn, forcing Ur-Rahman to edge one to first slip.

McCarthy then returned intending to close the Afghan innings out. He rattled No. 10 Nijat Masood's stumps for a duck pair for the match, and the man replacing him, Young, ended Zadran's stay by flattening his poles, all out for 218 and setting Ireland 111.

The curse of Nelson appeared to be real when Zadran rattled the stumps of Ireland opener Peter Moor and Curtis Campher without either batter opening their account. Nijat then accounted for Harry Tector for 2 when he got a feather touch to the keeper, and Ireland appeared to be losing the plot. But Balbirnie steadied Ireland's ship, first with Paul Stirling for company after tea, and after Stirling's dismissal, with Tucker.

Even though Tucker and Balbirnie offered a few nervous moments with their running between the wickets, their confidence grew as the target got closer. Eventually Afghanistan looked to have no answer as Balbirnie reached his fourth Test fifty with Ireland needing less than 20 to win. He remained unbeaten at the other end when the winning run was scored.