AFG beat IRE by 11 runs (D/L method) | Afghanistan vs Ireland, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st T20I Match - Commentary

Craig Young into the attack now.

Now then, the wicket is a good one to bat on, Afghanistan will fancy their chances of chasing this down. Ireland, on the other hand, need to bowl well. Can they defend it? Stay tuned to find out.

The Afghanistan bowling was expensive to begin with but they did well in the middle overs. Rashid Khan, once he came on, got crucial wickets and also kept a check on the run-flow. He was the pick of the bowlers. Zadran also finished strongly. Janat and Naib also did a decent job but Mujeeb had a day to forget. Overall though, they will be happy with their effort.

172! Under par? Above par? Par? We will find out later but at the moment, Afghanistan will surely be the happier side of the two, especially after the start Ireland got. After electing to bat, Kevin O'Brien and Paul Stirling got them off to a flier. O'Brien departed but Stirling continued. He got to his half ton and at that time, Ireland looked set for something around 190. However, once he fell, run scoring got difficult, they lost wickets at crucial intervals and fell well short of where they could have got judging at one stage.

Shapoor Zadran to Harry Tector. A couple to end! A length ball angled into the batter from outside off, Tector whacks it towards long on. They go for the risky second and complete it as the throw is a little wayward one. Ireland finish with 172/6.

Shapoor Zadran to Harry Tector. Innovation now! Shapoor tries for the yorker but ends up bowling a full toss outside off, Tector reverse paddles it past the short third man fielder. The fielder chases it down and makes a sliding stop. Two taken.

Shapoor Zadran to Harry Tector. A dot now! This one is a brilliant bouncer and Tector can only connect with thin air. It is short and just around off, Tector goes for the pull but fails to connect.

Shapoor Zadran to Harry Tector. SIX! WHACKED! This is excellent stuff from Tector. He is making sure that Ireland finish on a high. A slower shortish ball around middle, Tector spots it early and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Shapoor Zadran to George Dockrell. Good length ball angled into the batter, it is worked towards square leg for a single.

George Dockrell is the next man in.

Shapoor Zadran to Simi Singh. OUT! RUN OUT! Excellent throw from the deep! A full ball on middle, Simi flicks it towards deep mid-wicket. The call is for two but Nabi from the deep picks up the ball and fires a flat throw towards the keeper who takes the bails off quickly. Singh dives to make his ground. The replays roll in and show that the dive was a good one but Simi's bat was in the air. So he has to depart.

Run out appeal taken upstairs. Looks really close.

Shapoor Zadran will continue his spell and bowl the final over of the innings! Can he keep Ireland under 170?

Rashid Khan to Simi Singh. A single to end! 9 runs and a wicket from the over. A very good spell by Rashid comes to an end. He ends with figures of 4-0-22-3. On the pads, it is worked on the leg side for one.

Rashid Khan to Simi Singh. Very good running! On middle, Singh plays it with soft hands towards long on and takes two.

Rashid Khan to Harry Tector. A leg bye now! On off, Tector looks to play the reverse sweep. He misses, it hits him high on the pads and rolls on the leg side. A single taken.

Rashid Khan to Harry Tector. FOUR! Nails the sweep shot this time! He manages to drag it from outside off, it is right off the middle and in the gap through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Simi Singh joins Harry Tector out in the middle.

Rashid Khan to Lorcan Tucker. OUT! TAKEN THIS TIME! Mujeeb gets a chance to redeem himself and he does it brilliantly. This catch is a lot harder than the last one and it is taken outstandingly. Once again the sweep shot comes out from Tucker this time. It goes right off the top edge and lobs towards Mujeeb who runs in, slides and takes it inches above the ground. Another wicket for Rashid Khan.

Rashid Khan to Harry Tector. DROPPED! Another one put down! Mujeeb is the culprit this time! It is on middle, Tector looks to sweep but there is extra bounce. Another top edge which goes towards deep square leg. Mujeeb is a touch late to pick it. He though gets to the ball but spills it. A single taken.

Rashid Khan to bowl the penultimate over of the innings. 3-0-14-2 are his figures so far. Can he strike one more time in this innings?

Shapoor Zadran to Harry Tector. Audacious! Tector looks to play the reverse sweep. He does get bat to it but it is not off the middle. It lobs over covers for one. End of a very good over from Shapoor Zadran.

Shapoor Zadran to Lorcan Tucker. On the stumps, Tucker looks to force it through the off side but gets an inside edge. It rolls to the off side for one.

Shapoor Zadran to Lorcan Tucker. Nicely played! He uses his feet and makes room. It is shorter and around off, the batter guides it through point for two.

Lorcan Tucker is the next man in.

Shapoor Zadran to Gareth Delany. OUT! KABOOM! You miss, I hit stuff from Shapoor Zadran. This is on the stumps and it is on a length. Delany swings but the ball does not bounce as much as he expected it to and he is cleaned up. Another wicket at the right time for the hosts. Also, a good wicket as Delany can be quite destructive.

Shapoor Zadran to Harry Tector. A slower one outside off, Tector looks to loft it but he mistimes it towards deep cover for one. Singles won't harm the hosts.

Shapoor Zadran to Gareth Delany. Shorter in length and outside off, this is slapped through covers for one.

Shapoor Zadran is back into the attack. 2-0-21-0 from him so far.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Harry Tector. One more dot! It is very full and on the pads, HT looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. A dot to end but a good over for the visitors. A day to forget comes to an end for Mujeeb. 4-0-49-1 from him.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gareth Delany. A little too short, it is slapped down to long on for one.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gareth Delany. Flatter and outside off, the batter looks to guide it towards point but misses.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Harry Tector. A single now! This is on middle, it is swept towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Harry Tector. FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Ireland! This is tossed up outside off, it is a little too full. Tector lofts it well over the cover fielder and it races to the fence. 8 from the first two balls, pressure on Mujeeb.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Harry Tector. EDGY FOUR! Ireland won't mind how they come as long as they come. It is outside off, Tector swings but it goes off the outside edge, past short third man and into the fence.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back on. 3-0-39-1 from him so far. Can he end well here?

Karim Janat to Gareth Delany. FOUR! Good end to the over! A fuller ball outside off, Delany reaches out and squeezes it past the point fielder for a boundary.

Karim Janat to Harry Tector. Slightly shorter one and around off, Tector opens his bat face and runs it down to third man for a single.

Karim Janat to Gareth Delany. Just a single as Delany mistimes his drive towards covers to this length ball outside off. 3 off the first 4 balls of the over.

Karim Janat to Gareth Delany. Another length ball angled in. It is slightly shorter in length, Delany finds cover.

Karim Janat to Harry Tector. Short and wide outside off, Tector looks to cut but ends up chopping it towards covers. They take a quick run.

Karim Janat to Harry Tector. Play and a miss! A length ball angled in from outside off, Tector looks to force it towards the off side but misses.

Rashid Khan to Harry Tector. Straightaway looks to play the reverse sweep to this delivery outside off. He though almost plays it onto the stumps. It goes agonizingly close past the off pole and towards short third man for one. End of another successful over for Afghanistan.

Harry Tector is the new batter in.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. OUT! TIMBER! Rashid Khan gets his man! Balbirnie's luck runs out! He never looked convincing in his stay out there and now departs. It is the googly that does him in. It lands outside off and then turns back in. Balbirnie fails to pick it, it goes past his bat and hits the off pole. Another timely wicket for the hosts.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Top edge but a boundary this time! Once again Balbirnie goes for the sweep. There is extra bounce on the delivery this time. It takes the top edge and goes wide of short fine leg. The fielder there hares after it, dives and tries to push it back in but his effort goes in vain.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. In the air... safe! Two taken! This is tossed up outside off, Balbirnie looks to sweep but gets a top edge. It lands safe in the mid-wicket region and two is taken.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. On the shorter side again, it is guided to point.

Rashid Khan to Gareth Delany. On off, it is pushed through covers for one.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Nicely squeezed away! Spoils the over! A low full toss on middle, Balbirnie makes room and squeezes it through point and it races away to the fence.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. A slower short ball around off, Balbirnie drags it through mid-wicket and takes an easy two.

Karim Janat to Gareth Delany. A full toss, it is hit down to long off for one.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. Shorter and outside off, Balbirnie looks to cut but he gets an outside edge down to third man for one.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. Fuller and around middle, it is driven towards the bowler who gets his hand down and stops it.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. Shorter and around off, Balbirnie mistimes it towards cover. Another dot.

Karim Janat is back on. 2-0-13-0 are his figures so far.

Rashid Khan to Gareth Delany. Huge appeal for LBW but there was an inside edge. Rashid bowls a quicker one around off, Delany looks to keep it out but is late in bringing his bat down. It takes the inside edge and thuds on the pads. There is a loud appeal from the Afghan players but it dies down quickly too.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Loopy ball around off, Balbirnie this time pushes it through covers for a run.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Another flatter ball around off, Balbirnie once again finds point.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Shortish and around off, Balbirnie cuts but finds the point fielder.

Gareth Delany is the next man in.

Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. OUT! CAUGHT! Rashid strikes and sends Stirling packing. This can be a huge moment in the game. Rashid bowls this one slower through the air around off, Stirling looks to slog it over long on but the ball takes a leading edge and balloons high in the air. Rashid calls for the catch, settles under it and catches it over his head. Very good catch as it is never easy catching these skiers. A top knock from Stirling comes to end but he would've loved to keep going.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Shorter and closer to the off pole. Balbirnie cuts towards point and takes a run.

Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. FOUR! End of a very expensive over for Afghanistan! Shorter and outside off, this is slapped through covers for one. 14 from it.

Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. One more run! Shorter and around off, it is cut towards point where the fielder makes a half stop. A single taken.

Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Follows the biggie with a single as it is pushed down to long off.

Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. SIX! Fifty up in style! Excellent attacking innings from him. Still a lot of overs left so he can make it big here. Shorter and around middle, Stirling goes back and pulls it well over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. 100 up for the Irish.

Mohammad Nabi to Andy Balbirnie. Flatter and on off, it is pushed down to long on for one.

Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Angled into the pads, it is worked through mid-wicket for one.

Mohammad Nabi into the attack now.

Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Full and wide outside off, Stirling sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Good tight start from Rashid in his first over.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. Top edge but safe! Khan bowls a flighted ball on middle, Balbirnie looks to sweep but gets a top edge on this one. The ball lobs towards square leg. Gurbaz runs after it and then dives forward but the ball falls short. A single taken.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. BEATEN! Beautifully bowled from Rashid! Quicker one outside off, Balbirnie looks to defend but the ball whizzes past the outside edge of the bat and goes into the mitts of the keeper.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. NOT OUT! Balbirnie is safe! A shorter one from Rashid, it is wide outside off. Balbirnie cuts it well but goes for the single but Stirling sends him back. The throw from point is a good one as it comes over the stumps. Gurbaz collects the ball quickly and whips the bails off quickly. The Afghanistan players appeal and the umpire refers it upstairs. The replays roll in and show that Balbirnie had dropped his bat but kept his foot inside the crease. It could've been a disaster.

Run out appeal taken upstairs. Balbirnie's body language looks negative here. Let's see what the replays show.

Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Floated on middle, Stirling lifts it over Rashid for a single down to long off.

Rashid Khan to Andy Balbirnie. He starts with a quicker one on middle. It is fuller too. Balbirnie goes for the slog sweep but the ball takes the inner half of the bat and goes wide of the man at long on. A run taken.

Here comes the superstar, Rashid Khan.

Karim Janat to Paul Stirling. A dot to end! Shorter and on middle, this is kept out towards the bowler. Another good over for Ireland, 18 from the last two.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. A slower one on off, it is pushed towards point for an easy run.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Poor delivery with third man up. Width on offer outside off, Balbirnie waits for it and then cuts it through point. No chance of stopping that.

Karim Janat to Paul Stirling. Outside off again, Stirling looks to cut but chops it towards point for one.

Karim Janat to Paul Stirling. Full and wide outside off, PS goes after it but misses.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. Crunched but just for one! Shorter in length and on middle, this is pulled through square leg for one.

Gulbadin Naib to Andy Balbirnie. DROPPED! Shapoor puts down a relatively easy chance! That had to be taken, it would have been a big wicket. One more slower one outside off, Balbirnie slashes at it but it flies off the outside edge towards short third man where Shapoor Zadran spills it. A single is taken. This could prove very costly.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Another single as this ball is hit through covers again.

Gulbadin Naib to Andy Balbirnie. Slower and way too wide outside off, the batter reaches out for it and hits it through covers for one.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Length and around off, PS pushes it through covers for one.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. SIX! That has gone all the way! Shorter in length and on middle, Stirling stays back and pulls it well over the square leg region for a biggie.

Gulbadin Naib to Andy Balbirnie. Fuller and around off, it is hit down to long off for one.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. Once again a boundary scored in the over but just 6 from it! Length and around off, it is pushed through covers for one.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. What was Stirling doing there? This is a length delivery around off, AB looks to push at it but it goes off the inner half to the right of the bowler. There is no danger whatsoever but Stirling still dives to get back in his crease.

Karim Janat to Andy Balbirnie. Close! On a length and around middle, Balbirnie looks to push at it but gets an inside edge onto the pads. A half appeal but nothing.

Karim Janat to Paul Stirling. Shorter in length and this one skids through. It is hit down to long on for one.

Karim Janat to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Put away! Full and right in the zone for Stirling. He clears his front leg and thrashes it through covers. No chance of stopping those.

Karim Janat to Paul Stirling. A swing and a miss! Shorter in length and outside off, it skids through. Stirling looks to cut but is beaten.

Karim Janat is on now. The drizzle has stopped for now and but it is quite overcast right now.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. On the bounce to the fielder! So despite going for a boundary, just the five from the over. Stirling waits back for this slower one and pulls it towards deep square leg for one.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. One more dot! Another slower one outside off, PS is guilty of going a little too hard at it. He mistimes it towards cover.

It has started to drizzle. It has been raining across the Northern part of the country and this was on the cards. There is some breeze around too so let's hope it gets blown away.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. One more slower one which sticks in the surface a touch. Kevin looks to drive but mistimes it towards cover.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Goes back to bowling the slower one, it is on the pads, Stirling misses out as he fails to flick and it hits the pads.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Cracking shot! A little bit of width on offer and it is put away! Short and wide outside off, Stirling stands tall and crashes it through point for a boundary.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. This one is angled into the pads, Stirling looks to flick but is early into the shot. A soft leading edge towards mid off.

Andy Balbirnie is the next man in.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. OUT! Timber! Afghanistan get the big wicket of O'Brien. Good end to the Powerplay for the Afghans. Mujeeb has something to show against the hammering that he has received in his first 3 overs. He bowls this full and on the pads, O'Brien looks to sweep but he misses. It is the quicker one. The ball goes behind and disturbs the stumps. He departs but he has given a brisk start to the visitors. 63/1 at the end of the Powerplay.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! Another boundary. Runs are coming thick and fast here. Flatter and around off, O'Brien looks to clear the long off fence one more time but he does not time it well. But it is good enough to take the ball to the fence.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. A couple now! On the pads, Kevin looks to sweep but gets a faint inside edge. Zadran from short fine leg runs after it. He picks the ball and then looks to parry it to the fielder at short third man. He though throws it a little away and hence, an extra run is taken.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. SIX! Hammered! Rahman is getting some treatment here. He bowls a fuller ball outside off, O'Brien makes room and powers it over long off for a biggie.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Floated on off, defended.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! Slammed! 50 up for Ireland in quick time. Shorter and around off, O'Brien slams it through covers for a boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has a change of ends. 2-0-23-0 are his figures so far.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Fuller and around off, driven to mid off. A dot to end the over.

Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Good length ball on middle, O'Brien strokes it to long on for a single.

Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Swing and a miss! Good length ball around off, O'Brien goes for the slog but fails to connect. It wasn't too far away from the off pole.

Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Good length ball around off, pushed towards mid off.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Good length ball on middle, Stirling pushes it to long on for a single.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Good length ball outside off, Stirling lets it be. Wided by the umpire.

Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Full and wide outside off, Stirling reaches out and goes for the drive but finds the cover fielder.

Gulbadin Naib is into the attack now.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. Quick run to end the over. A length ball around off, Stirling taps it towards the off side and calls for a quick single.

Shapoor Zadran to Kevin O'Brien. Good length ball on middle, O'Brien tucks it towards short fine leg and takes a run.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. Good length ball just outside off, Stirling works it towards wide long on for a single.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Bouncer but on a poor line and Stirling does not miss out. It is down the leg side from Zadran. Stirling stays still and pulls it towards deep square leg. The ball bounces once and then goes to the fence.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. Good length ball around off, Stirling strokes it to mid on.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Very nicely played! Zadran dishes a short of a length ball outside off, Stirling rides the bounce and guides it through the gully and point fielder for a boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! 16 from the over! This is a top start for Ireland. Mujeeb once again drifts down the leg side. O'Brien sweeps it past the short fine leg fielder for another boundary. This is poor stuff from Mujeeb.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Flatter and outside off, Kevin looks to force it through the off side but misses.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. SIX! First one of the game. Mujeeb bowls it on the pads, O'Brien moves inside the crease and hammers it over fine leg for a maximum.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! O'Brien is getting into the action now. A full ball outside off, he slams it past the diving cover fielder for a boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Loopy ball on middle, Stirling slog sweeps it towards long on for a run.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Floated on middle, pushed to long on for a run by O'Brien. He is giving the strike to Stirling.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. Excellent way to finish the over. Slightly shorter in length and around off and middle, Stirling makes room and slashes it through covers. The ball races away to the fence.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Slammed down the ground! This is a brilliant shot from him. Zadran overpitches it outside off, Stirling hammers it through mid off for a boundary.

Shapoor Zadran to Kevin O'Brien. Shorter in length and on middle, O'Brien pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. Another risky run! Shortish ball on the body, Stirling tucks it towards short fine leg and calls for a quick run.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. Landed on middle on a fuller length, pushed back to the bowler.

Shapoor Zadran to Paul Stirling. Fuller and around off, Stirling pushes it towards covers.

Shapoor Zadran will bowl from the other end.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Excellent fielding at point. Shortish and around off, it is cut to point. The fielder there dives to his right and makes an excellent stop. They go for the quick run. The fielder fires the throw at the keeper's end who whips the bails off quickly but O'Brien was good enough to get to the crease. 7 from the first over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Flatter and on middle, worked towards square leg.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. O'Brien gets off the mark on the first ball. He pushes this tossed up ball on middle down to long on for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Fuller and on middle, Stirling pushes it towards mid on and takes a run.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Smashes this one to get off the mark in style! Slightly shorter and just outside off, Stirling goes on the back foot and punches it through covers for a boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Huge appeal first up. A flatter ball around off, Stirling goes for the sweep shot first up. He fails to connect and gets hit on the pads. Huge appeal but it was probably pitching outside off.

Done and dusted with the National Anthems. The two Irish openers, Kevin O'Brien and Paul Stirling, walk out to open the innings. Mujeeb Ur Rahman with the ball first up. Here we go...

Before the action, the players from both the sides are out for the National Anthems of their respective countries.

Pitch report - Ajay Mehra says that there is grass on this wicket and there is a strong breeze blowing around.

Asghar Afghan, the Afghanistan skipper, says that the toss doesn't really matter. On their record against Ireland, Afghan says that they have done well but it is a new day.

Andy Balbirnie, the Irish skipper, says that 1000th game of cricket for Ireland. The skipper says that the credit goes to all the people in the administration and fans back home. Tells that the surface is looking good. Wants to put runs on the board and put some pressure on Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Playing XI - Hazratullah Zazai, Najibullah Zadran, Asghar Afghan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Shapoor Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Ireland Playing XI - Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Paul Stirling, Kevin O Brien, Simi Singh, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Craig Young, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, Joshua Little.

TOSS - Up goes the coin and it lands in favour of Ireland. THEY WILL BAT FIRST.

It's almost time for the 3-match T20I series between Afghanistan and Ireland. With T20 World Cup 2020 approaching, both the sides will be eager to start the series on a winning note. Spin-heavy Afghanistan will start as favourites in more familiar conditions but Ireland have been to this ground quite a few times too. While the hosts have an upper hand over Ireland, they will not be treating the visitors any lesser. Let's see who comes out on top in this first encounter. Team and toss updates in a while.