DUBLIN: Mohammad Amir took his 100th Test wicket after returning to thefray against Ireland on Monday despite a troublesome knee injury.
The Pakistan spearhead went off just 3.2 overs into his spell on Sundayduring the second innings of Ireland´s inaugural Test with a recurrence ofa “chronic” left knee problem.
It was a worrying sign for Pakistan, who next play a warm-up match againstLeicestershire (May 19-20) before facing England in a two-Test series, withback-to-back fixtures at Lord´s (May 24-28) and Headingley (June 1-5).
But left-arm quick Amir was back on the field from the start of Monday´sfourth day when Ireland, following-on, resumed on 64 without loss.
Amir did not come into the attack until Monday´s ninth over, with the hosts81 for two after Ed Joyce had been run out by Faheem Ashraf and AndrewBalbirnie lbw for his second nought of the match to Mohammad Abbas.
Amir was not operating at top speed to begin with on Monday — often thecase with many fully-fit pacemen when they bowl their first over of the day– and flexed his knee while walking gingerly between overs.
However, he struck with his 29th ball on Monday when he demolished thestumps of Niall O´Brien (18) with a full-length delivery — a wicketgreeted with Amir´s customary arms-outstretched celebration.
And 94 for three became 95 for four when Amir had Ireland captain WilliamPorterfield (32) edging to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistanskipper.
At that stage, Amir had taken two wickets for no runs in six balls.
After a spell of two wickets for 10 runs in seven overs, including threemaidens, Amir left the field some 25 minutes before the scheduled lunchbreak.
He was back on the field before the interval but did not bowl again inMonday´s first session.
But after lunch Amir, in his 31st match at this level, took his 100th Testwicket when Gary Wilson was held in the slips by Haris Sohail to leaveIreland struggling at 157 for six.
At that moment, Amir´s overall Test figures stood at 100 wickets in 31matches at an average of 31.45.
The now 26-year-old Amir´s cricket career almost came to an end followinghis involvement in a spot-fixing scandal during a 2010 Test against Englandat Lord´s.
Amir was given a jail sentence by an English court and a five-year ban bythe International Cricket Council, but made his return to the world stagetwo years ago.
Amir, who helped Essex win English cricket´s first-class CountyChampionship last year, burst onto the world scene as a teenager and at 18was the youngest bowler to the landmark of 50 Test wickets.
His first 14 Tests saw Amir take 51 wickets at just a fraction over 23 runsapiece, but his 16 completed Tests since his comeback yielded 44 wickets ata more expensive average of 37.25. -APP/AFP