In what was already a historic occasion for Ireland cricket, Kevin O’Brien made it even more memorable.

The 34-year-old became the first player to score a Test century for Ireland, leading his side in a remarkable fightback against Pakistan in their maiden Test match.

It was fitting that O’Brien should be the one to carve out that particular slice of history. He was the architect of Ireland’s most famous innings to date, the match-winning 113 against England in the 2011 World Cup which at the time was the fastest-ever World Cup century.

In that innings he had come in when Ireland looked down and out, at 106-4 in a tall chase, and Monday’s moment of glory came in similar circumstances. His side were 95-4 in their second innings when he came out to bat, after Pakistan had bowled them out for 130 and enforced the follow-on. The Irish soon lost two more wickets, but O’Brien stitched a crucial partnership with Stuart Thompson (53) to bring them back into the match.

That partnership saw a few historic moments, as first O’Brien then Thompson reached their fifties, and went on to make Ireland’s first 100-run stand before Thompson was dismissed.

O’Brien’s moment came soon after, bringing up his century off the 186th delivery he faced, squirting an edge into the off-side. Ireland crossed the 300-run mark in a memorable day for both teams with Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir picking up his 100th wicket earlier in the day.