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AFG beat IRE by 32 runs | Afghanistan vs Ireland, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd T20I Match - Commentary
Afghanistan and Ireland in India, 3 T20I Series, 2019
Date: Feb 24, 2019 Start Time: 18:30 IST | 13:00 GMT | 18:30 LocalVenue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
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Afghanistan vs Ireland Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd Match - T20I Commentary
211 to win then. Yesterday, Paul Stirling said that 220-230 would have been chaseable. Can he convert that statement into execution? Stay tuned for the run chase...
A better outing for the Irish bowlers but only George Dockrell made a case for himself, with 1/26 in 4 overs. Rankin took 3 wickets but was mighty expensive. The last 5 overs went for 67 but in reality, almost every over looked like a death over. Crucially, only 24 came in the last 3. Will that hurt the Afghans?
Nabi showed how valuable spending time in the middle is, as he took some time to get his eye in and then simply exploded. 81 from just 36 balls is more than an eye candy as Afghanistan were struggling at one stage. The other batsmen just played around Nabi, after the openers could not quite repeat their heroics from Saturday.
Not as high a carnage as last night but still, a 200-plus score for Afghanistan, which should be a good one on this deck. Tonight it was more of a hit-every-ball-out-of-the-park mode and Mohammad Nabi played one of the best T20I innings of all time.
Peter Chase to Rashid Khan. An LBW appeal to end the innings. Not out. Probably pitched outside leg, with Rashid missing his flick and getting hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards mid-wicket and the batsmen take a single. No signal from the umpire, so must have been an inside edge. AFGHANISTAN FINISH ON 210/7!
Peter Chase to Sharafuddin Ashraf. Full and around leg, swung towards deep mid-wicket for just one.
Peter Chase to Rashid Khan. Full and wide outside off, RK throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge. It does not carry to short third man. A single taken.
Peter Chase to Sharafuddin Ashraf. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run.
Peter Chase to Rashid Khan. Outside off, Khan gets across to swing but earns a top edge. The ball lands in no man's land between mid off and long off and the batsmen take a single.
Peter Chase to Rashid Khan. A yorker outside off, Rashid looks to drive but misses.
Boyd Rankin to Rashid Khan. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Boyd Rankin to Sharafuddin Ashraf. Chips this straight back for a single.
Boyd Rankin to Sharafuddin Ashraf. Full and wide outside off, a swing and a miss.
Boyd Rankin to Rashid Khan. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Sharafuddin Ashraf walks in next.
Boyd Rankin to Shafiqullah. OUT! It is not a no ball and Shafiqullah is gone. A length ball outside off, Shafaq looks to go downtown but again, gets more height than distance as on the previous one. Only this time, the ball is well inside the ropes and long off takes it comfortably, with Stuart Thompson being the catcher. They check for the no ball but the replays deem it fine.
Shafiqullah has been caught! But it is a no ball?
Boyd Rankin to Shafiqullah. SIX! Terrific effort in the end though. A length ball on middle, Shafiqullah looks to clear the leg side but gets more height than required. Simi Singh is ready at the wide long on fence but realizes that the ball is going to go beyond. He leaps and tries to parry it to the fielder running across from mid-wicket but sadly for him and his team, the ball just lobs back beyond the boundary!
Boyd Rankin to Shafiqullah. ANOTHER WIDE. This is even further than the previous one.
Boyd Rankin to Shafiqullah. WIDE. Full and well outside off, left alone.
Boyd Rankin is back on. 3-0-42-2 so far.
Peter Chase to Rashid Khan. Tucks it through mid-wicket for a brace.
Peter Chase to Shafiqullah. The batsman fails to get bat on that one and is hit on the pad. They pick up a single. The umpire signals a leg bye.
Peter Chase to Shafiqullah. Outside off, a swing and a miss.
Rashid Khan walks in at number 7, replacing Nabi.
Peter Chase to Mohammad Nabi. OUT! High, high, high, into the atmosphere, ionosphere and stratosphere... travelling towards Delhi... but hang on... it is in Dehradun and magnificently taken! Andy Balbirnie, take a bow. That is a superb catch under pressure. A length ball, around middle, Nabi swings this miles in the air and for a second it seems like the ball has travelled the distance. But then, we realize that he has got more height than distance and when the parabolic curve is completed, Balbirnie is seen waiting for it, with his foot very close to the mid-wicket ropes. He takes it as cool as a cucumber and barely reacts! Nabi waits for a while, asks the umpire, gets confirmation from the fielder but it is referred upstairs. Replays show that the catch is fine and Nabi's maiden T20I century will have to wait. Still, 81 from 36 is not bad at all, is it?
Peter Chase to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! WALLOP! Full and around middle, Nabi hits this gun-barrel straight, right over the bowler, for a boundary!
Peter Chase to Shafiqullah. Full and outside off, hit out towards long off for a single.
Peter Chase returns. 2-0-26-0 so far.
Joshua Little to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! 25 from the over, 75 from the last 4! This is not getting from bad to worse - albeit from worse to worst for Ireland. A length ball, outside off, Nabi just pulls it with disdain through mid-wicket. There is a man stationed in the deep but he cannot get there!
Joshua Little to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! High and handsome! Full and outside off, right in the slot. Dispatched over long off!
Joshua Little to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! Off the inside edge. A fine yorker, outside off, Nabi gets across to flick but the ball takes the inner half of the bat and goes past short fine leg!
Joshua Little to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! VIOLENCE! Real violence. A length ball, around middle, Nabi backs away and swings it over long on!
Joshua Little to Shafiqullah. Outside off, driven through the covers for a single.
Joshua Little to Shafiqullah. FOUR! That is some shot to be played on your very first ball. Full and outside off, Shafiqullah gets down and across and scoops it over the keeper to the fine leg fence!
Joshua Little is back on. 2-0-20-0 so far.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. A short ball outside off, Mohammad sways away and then looks at the umpire, expecting a wide, but it ain't coming. 18 from the over, 50 from the last 3!
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! Now, what to talk about this? It is full and it is outside off. Right in the slot for Nabi who is in murderous mood. Backs away, gets right under the ball and dispatches it over cover.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! TONK! A short ball this time, Nabi clears his front leg and swings this right over the sightscreen!
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! Super shot. A length ball outside off, Nabi backs away to the leg side and hits this inside out over cover for a boundary!
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. A length ball, Nabi goes back and looks to pull but gets a top edge. Luckily for him, it does not carry to deep square leg. A couple taken.
Shafiqullah Shafaq walks in at number 7, replacing Najibullah.
Boyd Rankin to Najibullah Zadran. OUT! DIRECT HIT, BULL'S EYE! We need not have a second look, it looked so out. Wonder why it was referred upstairs. A short ball, Najibullah pulled it straight to George Dockrell at short mid-wicket and took off for the single. George fielded, picked it up, took aim and then released a powerful throw - direct at the base of the stumps at the bowler's end. Zadran started to walk immediately as he knew he was gone. But the umpire wanted to be sure.
Direct hit! Is Zadran gone? Referred upstairs... but Najibullah is walking...
Boyd Rankin is back on. 2-0-24-2 so far.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! A high full toss, around middle, Nabi whips it over short fine leg and gets a boundary! 19 from the over - after going for 2 in his first.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. Oops... A wide yorker outside off, Mohammad looks to dig it out but gets a bottom edge. The ball rolls back towards the stumps but the batsman is more interested in the single. He is then asked by his partner to stop the ball first which he does.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! THWACK! Probably the biggest of the night. Slower ball, fuller in length outside off, Nabi picks it, waits for it and then swings it into oblivion over mid-wicket! 35 from just 23 balls now. The stand meanwhile, has moved to 32 from 15 deliveries.
Shane Getkate to Najibullah Zadran. Outside off, pushed towards cover-point for a run.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. A high full toss, around middle, Mohammad misses his heave and gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. A single taken.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! Outstanding shot. Full and outside off, Nabi reaches out and just carves it over cover! Tell you, it is definitely not an easy shot to play. Superb batting.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. WIDE. Full and miles outside off, Nabi reaches out to drive but misses.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Around off, worked through mid-wicket for one. 13 from the over, yet, Dockrell finishes with figures of 4-0-26-1. Superb spell.
George Dockrell to Najibullah Zadran. Full and outside off, pushed past the bowler towards long off for a run.
George Dockrell to Najibullah Zadran. SIX! THUNDEROUS! Zadran is slowly coming to the party now. Full and around off, Najibullah gets down and plays the slog sweep miles over mid-wicket!
George Dockrell to Najibullah Zadran. FOUR! Nice shot! Full and around middle and leg, Zadran gets his bat down and reverse sweeps it precisely between short third man and backward point. Superb picking of the gap.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Around off, worked through mid-wicket for a single.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off.
Shane Getkate to Najibullah Zadran. This is slightly around leg, NZ misses his flick and is hit on the pads. A mild LBW appeal ensues and the batsmen are distracted, with Zadran halfway down the track for the single and Nabi looking at the bowler. In the end, a mishap is averted.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. Full and around off, pushed through mid off for a run.
Shane Getkate to Najibullah Zadran. Another leg bye as Najibullah misses a tuck again. The ball was pitched outside leg.
Shane Getkate to Mohammad Nabi. Full and wide outside off, steered down to third man for a single.
Shane Getkate to Najibullah Zadran. Down the leg side, Zadran misses his flick and is hit on the pads. A leg bye taken towards square leg.
Najibullah Zadran walks in at number 6, replacing his skipper.
Shane Getkate to Asghar Afghan. OUT! Getkate strikes first ball! Full and outside off, Afghan gets under it and looks to hit it over long off but the lack of pace defeats him. Hence he mistimes his shot and finds Stuart Thompson at long off. The budding 40-run stand is broken at the right time.
Shane Getkate into the attack now. 7th bowler for the evening.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Full and around off, watchfully defended. 10 from the over, 23 from the last 2.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Outside off, punched towards long on again for another single.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Outside off, punched down to long on for one.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! THUMP! Downtown goes Nabi. Flighted on middle, Mohammad comes down the track and sends it sailing over long on! 103 metres on the radar.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Comes down the track and hoicks it over square leg for a run.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover who misfields and concedes a single.
Peter Chase to Mohammad Nabi. Full and around middle, nicely controlled flick towards backward square leg for a run. 13 from the over. Chase's figures read 2-0-26-0 so far.
Peter Chase to Mohammad Nabi. ANOTHER WIDE. 5th of the night already. Down the leg side, Nabi misses his flick.
Peter Chase to Asghar Afghan. A full toss outside off, Afghan is surprised by that as he just pushes it back to the bowler. Chase fumbles and lets it through. A single taken.
Peter Chase to Asghar Afghan. WIDE. This one definitely is wided. Full and miles outside off, left alone.
Peter Chase to Asghar Afghan. A slower ball bouncer, outside off, Asghar lets it go, thinking it will be wided but it isn't.
Peter Chase to Asghar Afghan. FOUR! THRASH! Banged in short, Afghan goes back and swats it over mid-wicket for a boundary!
Peter Chase to Mohammad Nabi. Dropped short now, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Peter Chase to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! Welcome into the attack, my friend! Full and wide outside off, a gentle loosener, Nabi reaches out and lofts it casually over cover!
Peter Chase into the attack now.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Fired in on leg stump, Mohammad misses his tuck and is hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards square leg and a leg bye is taken. 84/3 at the halfway stage.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. A touch quicker, short and around middle, helped through square leg for a run.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Full and around off, watchfully defended.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Around off, skids through, Nabi pushes this uppishly again and once more it falls short of the bowler. However, Dockrell misfields while going to his right and the ball goes to long on. A single taken.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Outside off, pushed straight to cover.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Full and around off, pushed back a tad uppishly back to the bowler. Does not carry.
Stuart Thompson to Asghar Afghan. SIX! Ho ho ho! Even better! A long hop again, around middle, Asghar swivels and pulls it over mid-wicket. This time clearing the ropes! The last 2 balls just spoil the over...
Stuart Thompson to Asghar Afghan. FOUR! THRASH! Short and outside off, Afghan pulls it over mid-wicket and gets his first boundary.
Stuart Thompson to Mohammad Nabi. Full and wide outside off, squeezed behind point for a single.
Stuart Thompson to Mohammad Nabi. Short and outside off, Mohammad cuts it behind point. Peter puts in a good chase to his right from third man, slides and stops the ball. Two runs taken.
Stuart Thompson to Mohammad Nabi. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Stuart Thompson to Mohammad Nabi. WIDE. Well outside off, Nabi flashes hard but misses.
Stuart Thompson to Mohammad Nabi. Around off, defended from the crease.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Another watchful defense means that Dockrell has gone for just 2 runs in his opening over, taking a wicket.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Full and around off, watchfully defended.
Mohammad Nabi walks in at number 5, replacing Tarakai.
George Dockrell to Najeeb Tarakai. OUT! Taken at long on and the hard-hitting Tarakai departs too! Intelligent bowling but not-so intelligent batting. Full and around off, Najeeb gets down and looks to play the slog sweep. Is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and only skies it high in the air. Andy Balbirnie comes running in from long on and takes a decent catch. Three big hitters depart, in the span of 22 balls.
George Dockrell to Najeeb Tarakai. Quicker and flatter outside off, solidly defended.
George Dockrell to Najeeb Tarakai. On a slightly shorter length outside off, pushed towards the off side for a run.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single.
Proper spin time. George Dockrell called upon to bowl.
Stuart Thompson to Asghar Afghan. Finally gets off the mark on the 7th ball. Pushes this through the covers and gets across.
Stuart Thompson to Asghar Afghan. Outside off, punched straight to cover.
Stuart Thompson to Asghar Afghan. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Stuart Thompson to Asghar Afghan. Now a wild swing, outside off, missed again.
Stuart Thompson to Asghar Afghan. Outside off, Afghan throws his bat at that with his feet stuck in mud. Misses.
Stuart Thompson to Najeeb Tarakai. On middle and leg, helped through mid-wicket for a single.
Stuart Thompson comes in to bowl now.
Joshua Little to Najeeb Tarakai. Full and around off, driven down the ground towards long on for a run. 64/2 in the Powerplay.
Joshua Little to Najeeb Tarakai. Outside off, Najeeb looks to punch it through the off side but is beaten as the ball nips back in.
Joshua Little to Najeeb Tarakai. Outside off, punched straight to point.
Joshua Little to Najeeb Tarakai. FOUR! Great shot. A length ball outside off, Tarakai reaches out and drives it through cover-point for a boundary!
Joshua Little to Asghar Afghan. The batsman fails to get bat on that one and is hit on the pad. One run added to the total. The umpire signals a leg bye.
Joshua Little to Asghar Afghan. A length ball outside off, Afghan swings wildly but misses.
Joshua Little to Asghar Afghan. WIDE. Down the leg side, flick shot missed.
In comes the skipper, Asghar Afghan at number 4, replacing Zazai.
Boyd Rankin to Hazratullah Zazai. OUT! That is a 'sterling' catch and the Irish are pumped up! Not much of Zazai's fireworks tonight. A length ball, outside off, Hazratullah swings hard but is way too early into the shot. Gets a big leading edge which goes a long way up in the air. Now, this is a tricky catch. Paul Stirling is at mid off and has to run backwards to go for the catch. He puts in the hard yards, keeps his eyes on the ball and dives at the last moment to take a two-handed stunner! The entire camp in Green is hugging its skipper. Now, now, now, do they believe? We almost had everything in that over - A four, a six, a dropped catch and 2 wickets. Wow.
Boyd Rankin to Najeeb Tarakai. DROPPED! That would have been a great catch, had it been taken. A length ball, on middle, Tarakai looks to help it over the man at short fine leg but cannot quite get the elevation. The ball travels thick and fast to the right of Peter Chase who throws himself to his right but cannot hang on. A single taken.
Boyd Rankin to Najeeb Tarakai. SIX! THRASH! Full and around off, Tarakai swings it over mid-wicket and the ball travels a mile!
Boyd Rankin to Najeeb Tarakai. FOUR! Swung over mid on! Well, Tarakai has seen just one ball and gone bang on the next. A length ball, around off, Najeeb swings it but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat over mid on!
Boyd Rankin to Najeeb Tarakai. Around off, tucked straight to short mid-wicket.
Najeeb Tarakai comes in at number 3, replacing Ghani.
Boyd Rankin to Usman Ghani. OUT! LBW! The tall Rankin has struck! There falls the first wicket. Pace has done it for Ireland. A skiddy ball, pitched on a good length outside off, Ghani stays back in his crease to play that to the on side but misses. The speed does him in, beating his attempt and hitting him on the back pad. It is below the knee roll as well and Rankin appeals long and hard. The umpire thinks for a while and eventually raises his finger! Can Ireland build on this?
Boyd Rankin changes ends. 1-0-13-0 so far. Well, the sightscreen issues crop up again. Meanwhile, some sawdust is being brought on to be put in the bowler's landing area. Just 4 overs bowled in the first 25 minutes...
Joshua Little to Hazratullah Zazai. Another similar delivery, let through once more. 14 from this one, 41 from the last 3!
Joshua Little to Hazratullah Zazai. Full and outside off, almost flirting with the wide guidelines, left alone. The umpire passes that as a legal ball.
Joshua Little to Hazratullah Zazai. FOUR! Oh my my! This is some shot from Hazratullah. The ball is full and wide outside off and Zazai has to reach out for it. He does so, but in the process, loses control. The bottom hand comes off his bat but still, the ball hits the sweet spot of the bat and flies over cover!
Joshua Little to Hazratullah Zazai. WIDE! Oh dear... this is pressure on the bowler. Bowls it outside the pitch, wayyy outside off. Stuart Poynter collects it almost at first slip.
Joshua Little to Hazratullah Zazai. FOUR! TAKE THAT! Nothing streaky about this one. Full and outside off, Zazai swings this right back over the bowler, through mid on and down to the fence. The stand is worth 41 from 21 balls now.
Joshua Little to Hazratullah Zazai. FOUR! Streaky boundary. Full and wide outside off, Zazai throws his bat at it and ends up getting a thick outside edge. Luckily for him, it flies over short third man. In hindsight, that was not a good ball. With third man up, one cannot bowl wide outside off.
Joshua Little to Usman Ghani. Around off, on a length, whipped through mid-wicket for a single.
Joshua Little into the attack now. Stirling will hope that he concedes 'little' runs in this over.
Peter Chase to Hazratullah Zazai. Full and outside off, HZ comes down the track and swings wildly but misses. 13 from that over.
Peter Chase to Hazratullah Zazai. FOUR! Fantastic connection from Zazai. Carnage from both ends now. Short and around middle, Hazratullah swivels and pulls it behind square leg. Fine leg starts to run to his right but the moment the ball makes contact with the turf, it just races away. Third boundary of the over. The stand moves to 32 from 17 balls.
Peter Chase to Usman Ghani. Around off, tucked through mid-wicket for a single.
Peter Chase to Usman Ghani. FOUR! And another! Full and around off, Ghani gets across and flicks it handsomely over backward square leg! One bounce and into the ropes once more. Moves to 11 from 6 balls.
Peter Chase to Usman Ghani. FOUR! SPANKED! The attack has begun. A length ball outside off, Ghani comes down the track and swings it over mid-wicket for a boundary!
Peter Chase to Usman Ghani. Around off, tight line to start, solidly defended.
Peter Chase comes on to bowl. The Simi experiment lasted just one over.
Boyd Rankin to Hazratullah Zazai. SIX! There he goes! First biggie of the night! A length ball, around off, Zazai gets underneath this and swings it mightily over long on! 10 from the last 2, which means 14 have come from the over.
Boyd Rankin to Hazratullah Zazai. FOUR! First boundary of Sunday. Of how many? Full and around off, Zazai drives this beautifully down the ground and comfortably beats mid off!
Boyd Rankin to Usman Ghani. Short and outside off, flashed down to third man for one.
Boyd Rankin to Hazratullah Zazai. This one hurried the batsman, looking to tuck him up, Hazratullah missed his tuck and the ball went off his pads towards long leg. A leg bye taken.
Boyd Rankin to Usman Ghani. Nice shot. Fractionally short in length outside off, Ghani gets back and across and plays a Nataraja pull shot through square leg for a run.
Boyd Rankin to Hazratullah Zazai. A short ball, down the leg side, comfortably pulled towards fine leg for a single.
Boyd Rankin to bowl from the other end. A slight delay as there are sightscreen issues. Two lights protrude from behind the black screen and those are causing some disturbance, understandably.
Simi Singh to Hazratullah Zazai. Full and around off, swung towards deep mid-wicket for a run. A watchful start by the hosts.
Simi Singh to Usman Ghani. Landed outside off, punched down to long on for a single.
Simi Singh to Hazratullah Zazai. Flicks this away and gets to the other end.
Simi Singh to Hazratullah Zazai. Goes for another sweep but misses and is hit on the pads.
Simi Singh to Hazratullah Zazai. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Simi Singh to Hazratullah Zazai. Full and down the leg side, Zazai gets down and paddles it fine for a couple.
We are all ready for the game to begin then. Interesting choice from Stirling. Simi Singh has been given the new ball. The destroyers from last night - Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani will open for Afghanistan. Zazai to face. Here we go...
Afghanistan skipper, Asghar Afghan, opines that he would have liked to bat first as well. On the areas of improvement for this game, Asghar says that bowling under dewy conditions will be challenging. Informs that the side has made 4 changes.
Ireland captain, Paul Stirling, says that the team would want to try and correct the mistakes from last night, hence the decision to field on the same pitch. Admits that the team needs a much improved performance today and be selective in their shot-making.
TOSS TIME. Once again, Asghar flips the coin and this time, finally Stirling calls it correctly. IRELAND OPT TO CHASE.
PITCH REPORT - Niall O'Brien it is again, with the pitch report. For today, he says that it looks like an absolute ROAD. Advises the captain winning the toss to bat first.
Rashid Khan says that he just tries to repeat what he did in previous games, doing the basics right and trying to bowl in the right areas. Stresses that as a professional, one needs to understand that dew will be around and accordingly adjust.
WEATHER - Much better climate than the first 2 games. The sun has already set and twilight scenes are on display. Crucially, no rain clouds around.
Beaten in game 1. Hammered in game 2. What will be the outcome of the third? The series is done and dusted but neither side will take this lightly. Afghanistan will be hungry for their 10th successive T20I win over Ireland, while the visitors will aim to stop that losing rut. Hello and a warm welcome to the third and final T20I between Afghanistan and Ireland in Dehradun.
Right then. 3-0 to Afghanistan. They were expected to win and thoroughly deserved to win too. They continue to take giant steps in international cricket. Ireland, on the other hand, can only hope to learn from this for the better. The format switches now as ODIs begin. The first of 5 will be played on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 1 pm local (0730 GMT). Do join us then. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Victorious Afghanistan captain, Asghar Afghan thanks the almighty for helping them win the series. Says that this is for the people of Afghanistan. Admits that there is a heavy workload leading into the World Cup and hence a few players will be flown in for the ODIs. Thanks (in Pashto) to the crowd for supporting in large numbers.
MOHAMMAD NABI HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH FOR HIS 81 FROM 36 BALLS. Says that he is feeling very good about the fact that if he could not take wickets from the ball, he could do well with the bat and on the field. On his Big Bash experience, Nabi says that it does a world of good to the other members after sharing. MOHAMMAD NABI IS ALSO NAMED THE MAN OF THE SERIES.
Ireland captain, Paul Stirling says that they played better today, managing to spend some time in the middle. Adds that they were not far away from a win. Hopes that down the line, the guys from the middle order will learn to chip in and finish off games. On the upcoming ODI series, Stirling says that a few new guys are coming in which promises to be an exciting package.
Earlier, in the first innings, it was a Mohammad Nabi show with the bat as his 81 from 36 catapulted the home side post 200. The Irish struggled with the ball again with only George Dockrell standing out. Who will be the Man Of The Match? Nabi, or Rashid? Stay tuned for the presentation...
Kevin O'Brien tried hard after that to play a lone hand but it was too much for him to do. Rashid Khan then strut his stuff, picking up 4 wickets in 4 balls to end with a 5-fer. Mohammad Nabi played a key role too in keeping Ireland quiet in the middle overs, finishing with 0/28 in 4 overs.
Till that 'dewy' moment, Afghanistan were not at their best at all, putting catches down, bowling bad balls, misfielding, etc... But post that wiped off incident, they came out roaring. They needed one opportunity and they got that in the form of Andy Balbirnie. At that moment, Ireland needed 83 from 38 balls. That dismissal opened the floodgates and the hosts just went through.
Ireland began their chase of 211 in a decent fashion, not cowing down in spite of losing Stirling early. In fact, during the 96-run stand for the second wicket between O'Brien and Balbirnie, it seemed like the visitors would gun this total easily. But then came that moment at the end of the 13th over when the dew was swept across the outfield.
Another day. Same teams. Another match. But same result. Afghanistan continue their winning run and maintain their grapple on Ireland. Tonight was probably a case where the Men In Green could have won but after the dew was wiped across the outfield, the game changed totally.
Rashid Khan to Boyd Rankin. Full and around middle, pushed down to long on to end the game with a single. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 32 RUNS AND COMPLETE A 3-0 WHITEWASH!
Rashid Khan to Stuart Poynter. Pushes this towards point and takes a run.
Rashid Khan to Stuart Poynter. The googly, around middle, Poynter misses his flick and is hit on the pads.
Rashid Khan to Boyd Rankin. Works it down the leg side for a single.
Boyd Rankin walks in at number 10.
Rashid Khan to Joshua Little. OUT! BOWLED! Rashid gets a fifer. Does not matter where he bowls. He gets wickets in Sharjah, Dubai, Ireland, Netherland, Windies and even in India. Full and around off, Little gets across to paddle but misses and the ball hits the off stump.
Rashid Khan to Joshua Little. Outside off, Little looks to cut but misses.
Sayed Shirzad to Joshua Little. Another heave-ho and the ball goes off the inner half of the bat towards long on. Just a single.
Sayed Shirzad to Joshua Little. FOUR! Full on middle, Little swings it down the ground and beats long on.
Sayed Shirzad to Stuart Poynter. Outside off, punched through the covers for a run.
Sayed Shirzad to Stuart Poynter. FOUR! Full and around middle, Poynter gets down and across, sweeping it over square leg. Too little, too late.
Sayed Shirzad to Joshua Little. On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a run.
Sayed Shirzad to Stuart Poynter. Short and outside off, cut through the covers for a single.
Sayed Shirzad to bowl the 19th over.
Rashid Khan to Stuart Poynter. Full on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for just a run. 3-0-24-4 for Rashid. Can he take 5?
Rashid Khan to Stuart Poynter. Full on middle, pushed down to long on for a couple.
Rashid Khan to Stuart Poynter. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Rashid Khan to Joshua Little. WIDE. This is way too far down the leg side, Little gets a long way across to sweep but misses. The keeper fumbles and the batsmen take a single.
Joshua Little walks in at number 9 with plenty left to do...
Rashid Khan to Simi Singh. OUT! LBW! FIRST AFGHAN PLAYER TO TAKE A T20I HAT-TRICK! Wow. Rashid Khan, simply wow. One of the best bowlers ever witnessed in this sport. This is another googly, around middle, Simi gets across, looks to flick but misses and is struck right in front of the stumps. Looked plumb and the umpire raises his finger.
Simi Singh to face the hat-trick ball.
Rashid Khan to Shane Getkate. OUT! Stumped by a mile. Getkate comes down the track and seeing that, Rashid fires it wide down the leg side. Shane misses his flick but the keeper does well to collect and whip the bails off. They appeal and it is referred upstairs. Replays confirm the marching orders.
Stumped first ball?
Stuart Poynter walks in at number 7, replacing Dockrell.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. OUT! That is a terrific catch from Nabi now! So what if the experienced bloke could not get a wicket. You cannot keep him out of the game, can you? Full and around off, Dockrell gets down to play the slog sweep but Rashid has fired this a touch wider outside off. This means that Dockrell has to fetch it. Hence, he mistimes it towards long on but it does seem like the ball has enough legs on it. But Mohammad Nabi watches it like a hawk, leaps at the last moment, catches it, parries it in the air, goes beyond the boundary and then comes back in to take the catch! Superb athleticism.
Mohammad Nabi to George Dockrell. Driven towards the long on region. The batsmen have run through for a single. 4-0-28-0 for Nabi tonight.
Mohammad Nabi to Shane Getkate. Full and around middle, swiped towards long on for another single.
Mohammad Nabi to Shane Getkate. A low full toss around middle, Getkate can only get it back to the bowler.
Mohammad Nabi to George Dockrell. Pushes this through mid on for one.
Mohammad Nabi to Shane Getkate. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a run.
Mohammad Nabi to George Dockrell. Short and outside off, punched through mid on for a single.
Shane Getkate walks in at number 6, replacing O'Brien. Mohammad Nabi returns too. 3-0-23-0 so far.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. OUT! Caught behind! My word, Shafaq, take a bow. This wicket is more due to the keeper than the bowler. Fractionally short outside off, O'Brien backs away to the leg side and looks to go inside out but the ball stays low and takes the bottom edge. But Shafiqullah Shafaq gets low and takes a stunner. Rashid starts flying while Shafaq appeals and the umpire raises his finger. KOB is disappointed but that was out. End of a big knock. Sadly, that might be the end of the game.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. Short ball, around middle, pulled towards deep mid-wicket for one more.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Pushes this down to long on for a run.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. THREE WIDES. Down the leg side, a rare loose ball from Rashid, KOB misses his sweep and the blinded keeper misses it too. Two runs taken.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. Another long hop, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a run.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. MISFIELD, FOUR! Slightly short from Rashid, Dockrell pulls it towards mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep runs to his right and puts in a slide but misses the ball.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, punched wide of long off for a single.
Rashid Khan is back on. Afghan playing his cards perfectly.
Sayed Shirzad to George Dockrell. Outside off, skewed over cover for a couple.
Sayed Shirzad to George Dockrell. SIX! That is an outrageous shot. Dockrell walks across his stumps and Shirzad fires it full on middle. But George just scoops it over fine leg! A second late and the furniture behind would have been damaged.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. Down the leg side, flicked towards mid-wicket for one more.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They manage to come back for the second.
Sayed Shirzad to George Dockrell. Walks across his stumps and flicks it through square leg for a run.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. Full on middle, swung towards long on for a single.
George Dockrell is the new man in. Sayed Shirzad into the attack as well.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. OUT! DIRECT HIT AND THOMPSON IS GONE! Superb piece of fielding and Afghanistan are back in this game. Outside off, O'Brien punches it towards point and sets off for what looks like an easy single. Thompson starts to run too but Najibullah Zadran at backward point dives to his right, gets up in a flash, takes aim and has a rocket throw at the striker's end. Boom! Thompson is nowhere in the frame.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Stuart Thompson. Short and outside off, cut through point for a run.
Stuart Thompson is the new man in.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Andy Balbirnie. OUT! BOWLED! The slower ball does the trick and Afghanistan breathe again. The 96-run stand has been broken and the pendulum is back into action. A length ball, outside off, Balbirnie looks to defend but the ball comes in a long way, goes past his inner half of the bat and knocks the timber! Decent knock by Balbirnie. 83 more needed from 38 balls now.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Oh yes. Full and outside off, Balbirnie gives himself room to the leg side and lofts it cleanly over mid off for a boundary!
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. A short ball now, O'Brien looks to pull but gets a bit of an inside edge towards the leg side as he ends up playing early. A run taken.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Andy Balbirnie. Outside off, chopped down to third man for a single.
A bit of a break in play. The outfield is being swept off dew and the Afghans take that moment to have a pep talk. 89 more needed from 42 balls. Both teams still in it. Meanwhile, Zia-ur-Rehman returns. 3-0-35-1 so far.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Outside off, pushed through point for another single. Ashraf is done for the night - 4-0-39-0.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. Full and around off, driven through mid off for one more.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman has been struck on the thigh pad.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. The batsman plays a sweep shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a single this time.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. IN THE AIR... AND DROPPED! Ahhh... the dew again. Full and around middle, O'Brien gets down and sweeps it hard and straight to Sayed Shirzad at deep backward square leg! But he plonks it down. Straight in, straight out. A couple taken.
Sharafuddin Ashraf is back on. 3-0-33-0 so far.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Dropped short, punched down to long on for one more.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Full and around off, Balbirnie gets down and sweeps it through square leg, just about evading the umpire there, for a run.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, punched uppishly down to long off for a run.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Now he stays back and works it through square leg for a run.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! That is a lovely shot. Full and outside off, Balbirnie stays leg side of the ball and lofts it with ease over cover.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Full and around middle, pushed back to the bowler.
Mohammad Nabi is back on. Change of ends. 2-0-15-0 so far.
Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Down the leg side, tucked towards short fine leg for a run.
Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Full and fast on middle, pushed towards long on for a brace.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Full and outside off, steered towards short third man for a run.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, punched wide of long on for a couple.
Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Outside off, tapped towards point for a run.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Full and outside off, lofted over cover for a single.
Rashid Khan is on, finally.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. Down the leg side, tucked through backward square leg for one. The Irish are exactly 100/1 after 10 overs, 16 clear of what Afghanistan were at this stage.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Andy Balbirnie. Outside off, dabbed to third man for a run.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, punched off the back foot for a single.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Andy Balbirnie. Full on middle, pushed down to long on for one more.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. Down the leg side, flicked towards fine leg for a single.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! A one-handed shot. Short and around middle, O'Brien looks to pull but his bottom hand comes off the bat. Still, he manages to control the shot and gets it through mid-wicket.
Zia-ur-Rehman is back on. 2-0-26-1 so far.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! He has found that gap to perfection. Fractionally short outside off, Balbirnie goes back and cuts it just wide of short third man, to his right. There is deep backward point in place but he can only be a watcher.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, punched through the covers for another single.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Outside off, played through point for one more.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Pushes this through mid on for a run.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, punched through the covers where a half-stop by Zia-ur-Rehman keeps the batsmen to a single.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Short and outside off, cut straight to point. 10 from the over.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, punched wide of long off for a single. 50-RUN STAND IS UP.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. Full and around middle, KOB looks to sweep but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat past short fine leg. A couple of runs taken.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. Full and around off, watchfully defended.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. SIX! Terrific hit! Around off, O'Brien stays leg side of the ball, clears his front leg and lofts this dead straight as an arrow to clear the ropes at long off!
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Full and around off, pushed down to long off for a single.
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Full and around middle, swept straight to short fine leg for a quick run.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot for a single.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, this is forced off the back foot through the covers for a couple.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Down the leg side, O'Brien misses his flick and the keeper appeals immediately. But the umpire calms them down. Does not signal a wide either. Did that hit the pads?
Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Action replay of the previous delivery.
Mohammad Nabi to Kevin O'Brien. Full and around middle, pushed down to long on for a single.
Mohammad Nabi is on now.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Full and around middle, played straight to short mid-wicket. 66/1 in the Powerplay for Ireland, as opposed to 64/2 by Afghanistan.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Full and fast, down the leg side, Balbirnie sweeps it powerfully and gets it behind square leg.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Outside off, slammed through the covers for a couple.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They pick up a single.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. Full and around middle, played straight to short mid-wicket.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. WIDE. Down the leg side, Kevin misses his flick.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. SIX! Nicely hit. Full and outside off, tossed up slightly, O'Brien leans and lofts it over cover for a biggie!
Sayed Shirzad to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Poor fielding again. Is due getting the better of the Afghans? Outside off, Balbirnie looks to punch it through the off side but gets a thick inside edge which goes towards fine leg. The fielder though, struggles to stop the ball and it goes through.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Sayed Shirzad to Andy Balbirnie. SAFE AS A HOUSE. On a good length around off, Balbirnie pushes it towards point and calls for a quick single. The fielder quickly gets to the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end and hits them. The umpire refers it upstairs but replays show that Balbirnie is well in.
Direct hit! Is this wicket number 2? Referred upstairs...
Sayed Shirzad to Andy Balbirnie. The batsman has pushed it to the cover region.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. Full and wide outside off, Kevin looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge which flies through the vacant slip region towards third man. A run taken.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! Stand and deliver. Full and around middle, O'Brien hammers it straight back over the bowler for a boundary!
Change of ends for Shirzad.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Around off, solidly blocked from the crease.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman.
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR MORE! Short and outside off, cut behind point for another boundary!
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Outside off, short in length, Balbirnie goes back and punches it through point and gets a boundary!
Sharafuddin Ashraf to Kevin O'Brien. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.
Sharafuddin Ashraf comes into the attack.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Andy Balbirnie. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover. 13 runs from the over but a big wicket in it as well.
Andy Balbirnie walks in at number 3, replacing his skipper.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Paul Stirling. OUT! Caught! There goes the first wicket and with that, probably half the chances of a win for Ireland. Hero of the losing side on Saturday loses out on Sunday. A length ball, around middle, Stirling looks to go over the top but the ball hits the toe end of the bat and lobs to mid on. Simple catch for the opposition skipper and Asghar Afghan makes no mistake.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Paul Stirling. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. Defended off the back foot by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! A short ball, around off, KOB pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary!
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. WIDE. Another one down the leg side, flick shot missed.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. SIX! WHACK! A short ball, outside off, O'Brien goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket!
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. WIDE. Full and down the leg side, flick shot missed.
Sayed Shirzad to Paul Stirling. Outside off, once again Paul plays inside the line and gets defeated.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. One run added to the total.
Sayed Shirzad to Kevin O'Brien. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman.
Sayed Shirzad to Paul Stirling. Outside off, pulled away but horribly mistimed. The ball goes just wide of short mid-wicket and the batsmen take a single.
Sayed Shirzad to Paul Stirling. MISFIELD, FOUR! Outside off, Stirling guides it towards third man. Zia-ur-Rehman gets across and slides but slips due to the dew and the ball goes through!
Sayed Shirzad to Paul Stirling. On a length around middle, moving away, Stirling plays inside the line and gets squared up. The ball beats the outside edge.
Sayed Shirzad to bowl from the other end.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! Just wide! Full and down the leg side, Kevin flicks it towards short fine leg. The fielder dives to his right but the ball just escapes him! 13 from the opener.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! O'Brien gets himself going now. A short ball, Kevin pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary!
Zia-ur-Rehman to Kevin O'Brien. Around middle, defended back to the bowler.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Paul Stirling. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total.
Zia-ur-Rehman to Paul Stirling. FOUR! SUBLIME! That is a nice way to get yourself going after a 90-odd last evening. Overpitched outside off, Stirling leans and drives it wide of mid off for a boundary!
Zia-ur-Rehman to Paul Stirling. The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.