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IRE beat AFG by 72 runs | Ireland vs Afghanistan, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st ODI Match - Commentary
Afghanistan in Ireland, 2 ODI Series, 2019
Date: May 19, 2019 Start Time: 15:15 IST | 09:45 GMT | 10:45 LocalVenue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
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Ireland vs Afghanistan Highlights And Cricket Score 1st Match - ODI Commentary
So just 211 to get from the 50 overs. Afghanistan are clearly in the driver's seat and this should be an easy chase for them. Ireland will have to bowl out of their skins if they want to win this one. The second innings begins in a while. Make sure you join us for it.
It was a very professional performance from the visiting side. The bowlers were on the money right from the word go. All the bowlers were economical and never let the Irish get off the hook. The pace duo of Dawlat Zadran and Aftab Alam picked up 3 wickets each. While Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib also got themselves in the wickets column with 2 and 1 respectively.
Ireland after being put into bat, did not get off to a good start. They lost opener James McCollom and Andy Balbirnie inside the first Powerplay. The experienced duo of Paul Stirling and skipper William Porterfield steadied the ship and added a 99-run stand for the third wicket, with both the batsmen getting their respective fifties. That was the only highlight in an otherwise poor batting display. Once Porterfield got out, Stirling did not wait long either and Ireland kept losing wickets. There was no performance of note from the middle order and the hosts lost their last 8 wickets for just 76 runs.
When a team loses 5 wickets for 18 runs it never looks good on the scorecard. A terrible collapse from the hosts has seen the hosts get blown away for a paltry score of 210.
Aftab Alam to Boyd Rankin. OUT! Yorker wraps Ireland's innings. It is a brilliant one on off. Too good a ball for a number 11 batsman. He looks to hit it but misses. The ball hits the off stump. Ireland all out for 210.
Aftab Alam to Tim Murtagh. Short outside off, Murtagh pulls it away to mid-wicket for one.
Aftab Alam to Tim Murtagh. Length ball on off, Murtagh drives it straight to mid off.
Aftab Alam to Boyd Rankin. Outside off on a length, Boyd runs it down to third man for one.
Aftab Alam to Tim Murtagh. Full on leg and middle, Tim lofts it over mid on for a run.
Boyd Rankin walks out to bat. Aftab Alam will bowl the 49th over.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy McBrine. OUT! 3rd wicket for Dawlat Zadran in the game. He bangs one in short. It is on the body, McBrine looks to pull but gets a top edge which goes straight to backward point. Hashmatullah Shahidi takes a dolly there and Ireland lose their 9th.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy McBrine. Shorter in length, Andy looks to pull but hits it straight to mid-wicket.
Dawlat Zadran to Tim Murtagh. Length ball outside off, Murtagh lofts it over point. The fielder runs and gets to the ball. He tumbles while getting there and they take a run.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy McBrine. Length ball on off, Anduy defends it with soft hands and takes a single.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy McBrine. Full on middle, Andy taps it back to the bowler.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy McBrine. Full on the pads, McBrine looks to flick but it flicks his pad and goes to the keeper.
Rashid Khan to Tim Murtagh. On off, Murtagh blocks it off his front foot. 4 runs and a wicket of Rashid's final over. He finishes with the figures of 10-0-41-2.
Tim Murtagh walks out to bat.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. OUT! Googly does the trick. It is pitching on off, Dockrell looks to defend hoping that it will be a leg spin but the ball spins the other way and he is stuck flush on the pads. Rashid goes up in appeal and the umpire raises the dreaded finger.
Rashid Khan to Andy McBrine. On the pads, McBrine glances it wide of 45 for a run.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. Outside off, Dockrell punches it wide of cover for a run.
Rashid Khan to Andy McBrine. Floated on off, Andy taps it to cover. Rashid runs and gets to the ball but they take a single with ease.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. On the pads, George flicks it to mid-wicket and gets a run. Singles won't hurt Afghanistan.
Andy McBrine is the new man in.
Aftab Alam to Mark Adair. OUT! Chopped on. Length ball outside off, Adair looks to cut but he is too close to the ball. He gets an inside edge which goes onto hit the off stump. Ireland need to score at least 40 runs off the last 4 here.
Aftab Alam to Mark Adair. Back of a length ball outside off, Adair pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket. The slowness of the outfield does not take it to the fence and they get two.
Aftab Alam to George Dockrell. Outside off, Dockrell cuts it towards point and gets a single.
Aftab Alam to Mark Adair. On middle and leg, Adair milks it to long on for a run.
Aftab Alam to George Dockrell. On the pads, Dockrell flicks it towards deep mid-wicket and gets a single.
Aftab Alam to Mark Adair. Short ball on off, Adair pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
Rashid Khan to Mark Adair. Dropped! Tough chance though. Tossed up on off, Adair comes down the track and hits it hard towards the right of Rashid. He gets his hand to it but cannot hold onto it. The ball goes towards mid on and they take a run.
Rashid Khan to Mark Adair. A short delivery on off, Adair cuts it to point.
Rashid Khan to Mark Adair. Rashid bowls this on middle and leg, Adair flicks it to deep square leg for a double.
Rashid Khan to Mark Adair. Full on off, Adair keeps it away.
Rashid Khan to Mark Adair. Adair looks to defends it with full face of the bat, but get a little edge but Shahazad fails to take it.
Rashid Khan to Mark Adair. The batsman has nudged the ball fine down the leg side.
Mark Adair comes out to bat.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. OUT! Rashid will be a happy man. He had dropped him earlier but it has not cost them. Shorter on off, Kevin looks to pull but gets a top edge which goes straight to fine leg. Mujeeb takes an easy catch. Not the wicket Ireland would have wanted to lose at this moment.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. On the leg side, Kevin flicks it wide of fine leg for a run.
Aftab Alam to George Dockrell. Yorker on off, George digs it out to the off side for a run.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. On off and middle, Kevin milks it to long on for a run.
Aftab Alam to George Dockrell. On the pads, George flicks it away to the on side for a run.
Aftab Alam to George Dockrell. Shorter on off, Dockrell pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket and gets a run.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Tossed up outside off, kevin looks to defend but misses.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Quicker outside off, Kevin looks to defend but misses.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! Rashid must be kicking himself for the drop catch. He tosses it up on middle and leg, Kevin slog sweeps it over mid-wicket and the ball bounces before the rope for a boundary.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Floated outside off, Kevin drives it wide of cover and gets a couple.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. Shorter on off, Dockrell punches it to cover for a run.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. Full on off, Brien plays it back to the bowler.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. WIDE! Overhead wide, Kevin tries to pull it but the ball goes over his head.
Aftab Alam to George Dockrell. Dockrell now flicks it towards the mid-wicket region for a single.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. Full on leg, Brien flicks it to sqaure leg for a run.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. DROPPED! How rarely do you see that from the Afghanistan sensation? Fuller delivery on off, Kevin looks to go over mid off but gets it off the toe end of the bat. It goes high in the air, Rashid gets under it but seems like he got too confident and tried to catch it with very little fuss. He it hits his finger and out.
Aftab Alam to Kevin O'Brien. Punched off the back foot but straight to cover.
Aftab Alam to George Dockrell. Good length ball on the pads, George flicks it to mid-wicket for a run.
Aftab Alam is back into the attack.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. Floated on off, Dockrell nudges it to cover and keeps the strike.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Floated on off, Kevin pushes it towards cover for a run.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Now smartly and calmly blocks it.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! Short and wide from Rashid. Kevin loves the width on offer. He says thank you very much and cuts it through point for a boundary.
Rashid Khan to Kevin O'Brien. Short again this time, Kevin punches it straight to cover.
Rashid Khan to George Dockrell. Shorter on off, Dockrell punches it towards cover for a run.
Powerplay 3 signalled by the umpire. 5 fielders can now be placed outside the 30-yard circle till the 50th over. Also, Rashid Khan is back on.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! They overcooked the short ball. It is on off, Kevin thumps it over mid off for a boundary.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. On the stumps, O'Brien blocks it.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Kevin struggling here to get past the fielders. On the body, Kevin glances it straight to mid-wicket.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Back of a length ball, Kevin pulls it but straight to mid-wicket.
Gulbadin Naib to George Dockrell. Length ball on off, Dockrell defends it towards cover with soft hands and they take a run.
Gulbadin Naib to George Dockrell. Good length ball on off, George blocks it.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman appears to have been struck on the thigh-pad.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. FOUR! Exquisite. Floated on off, Kevin gets on his front foot and creams his drive through covers for a boundary.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. On the stumps, Kevin defends it off his front foot.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to George Dockrell. On the pads, Dockrell looks to flick but it goes towards square leg after clipping his pads. They take a leg bye.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. On the pads, Kevin flicks it away towards mid-wicket for a run.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Punched off the back foot by the batsman
Gulbadin Naib to George Dockrell. Good length ball on off, George blocks it.
Gulbadin Naib to George Dockrell. On the stumps, Dockrell blocks it.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. This time flicks it wide of the square leg fielder for a run.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. On the pads, Kevin flicks it straight to mid-wicket.
George Dockrell walks out to bat.
Gulbadin Naib to Gary Wilson. OUT! Run out! Good length ball on middle, Garry tucks it towards mid-wicket. It is just a gentle tuck so the ball lobs just on the side of the pitch. They take the risk of taking a quick single. Rahmat Shah quickly gets to the ball from mid-wicket and has a shy at the bowler's end. He hits bull's eye and Garry Wilson is short. Brilliant piece of work from Rahmat Shah in the field.
Gulbadin Naib to Gary Wilson. The batsman rocks onto the backfoot and punches the ball.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. On the pads, Kevin flicks it to mid-wicket.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gary Wilson. On the pads, Wilson works it behind square for one.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. On the pads, O'Brien flicks it away for a run.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Tossed up on off, Kevin taps it back to the bowler.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gary Wilson. Floated on off, Garry pushes it wide of cover for a run.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gary Wilson. On off, Wilson taps it to point.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Dot to finish the over. On a length, Kevin taps it back to the bowler.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. On the pads, Kevin blocks it.
Gulbadin Naib to Gary Wilson. Outside off on a length, Wilson runs it down to third man for a run.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Good running. Length ball on off, O'Brien pushes it wide of mid on and takes a quick single.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Length ball on off, Kevin pushes it to mid off.
Gulbadin Naib to Gary Wilson. Good length ball on off, Garry taps it to cover and takes a quick single
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Dot to finish. It is flatter on off, Kevin blocks it.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gary Wilson. On the pads, Wilson flicks it to the on side to take the 5th single on the trot.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. On middle and leg, Kevin glances it to mid-wicket and takes one.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gary Wilson. On the pads, Wilson flicks it down to mid-wicket for another single.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Tossed up on middle and leg, O'Brien strokes it top long on and rotates the strike.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Gary Wilson. Floated on off, Garry pushes it wide of cover and gets a run.
Gulbadin Naib to Gary Wilson. Length ball outside off, Garry punches it wide of cover and keeps the strike.
Gulbadin Naib to Gary Wilson. Length ball on off, Garry drives it wide of sweeper cover and gets a couple.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Naib bowls it on middle and leg, Kevin glances it to mid-wicket for a single.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Length ball on off, O'Brien defends it off his front foot.
Gulbadin Naib to Kevin O'Brien. Outside off, Kevin punches it straight to cover.
Gary Wilson walks out to bat next.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. OUT! Change of bowling does the trick here. Naib bends his back and bowls it short, Paul looks to go hard at it and goes for the pull. He is late on his shot and it gets a leading edge which just goes high and towards mid on. Asghar Afghan settles under it and takes a comfortable catch. End of another good innings from Stirling, he though would be unhappy that he could not convert it to a triple figure score.
Gulbadin Naib is back into the attack.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Shorter on off, O'Brien gets on his back foot and blocks it.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Tossed up on middle and leg, Stirling lofts it over mid-wicket for a run.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Flighted on off, Kevin pushes it wide of cover and gets a single.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. On the stumps, this time Kevin blocks it.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. On the pads, Paul paddle sweeps it. It is not timed well and they get three as the man comes in to collect the ball from square leg. Good running here from the two batters.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kevin O'Brien. Tossed up outside off, Kevin strokes it to deep cover and gets a single to get off the mark.
Kevin O'Brien walks out to bat. Also Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back into the attack.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. OUT! The partnership is broken. Just a run short of century stand. Rashid gets his first off the game. Rashid tosses it up outside off, Porterfield looks to sweep it against the spin. He gets a top edge on it which goes to deep square leg. Dawlat Zadran in the deep takes a simple catch.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Floated on off, Stirling hits it towards cover and gives Porterfield the strike.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Outside off, Paul cuts it but finds short third man.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Tossed up on off, William defends it solidly off his front foot and gets a single as the ball goes towards cover.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. On the pads, flicked to mid-wicket for a run.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Shorter on off, Paul pulls it to mid-wicket and gets a run.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Tossed up on off, Porterfield strokes it wide of the man at cover.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Once again on the stumps, WP defends it with straight bat.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Floated on the stumps, Porterfield blocks it.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Floated on off, William drives it to the man at cover.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Flicked away towards square leg and gets a single. Keeps the strike.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. On middle, Porterfield flicks it straight to mid-wicket.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. FOUR! On the pads, Porterfield picks the length early and sweeps it wide of the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. Fifty for Porterfield.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Porterfield has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. On the pads, William flicks it but to the man at short fine leg.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. On off, Porterfield defends it off his front foot.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Full on middle on off, PS plays it back to the bowler.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. Flighted delivery on off, Sterling lofts it over mid off for another boundary.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Nabi flights this one on leg, Paul sweeps to square leg for a boundary. Glorious shot that.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. A back of a length on off, WP slaps it to deep cover for a single.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Nabi fires this one on middle, Prterfield defends it with ease.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Full on leg, drives it to long off. Single taken.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Porterfield has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. On the pads once again and once WP hits it straight to the same man at square leg.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. On the pads, WP flicks it straight to square leg.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Better this. Bowls it on the stumps, Porterfield blocks it.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. FOUR! Poor from Rashid. He sparys this ball on the pads, Porterfield glances it on its way to the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. No run.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. On the pads, WP flicks it away to the on side for a run.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. On the stumps, Porterfield defends it off his front foot.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. On the pads, WP looks to sweep but gets hit on the pads.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. FOUR! Excellent shot. Short and wide outside off, Porterfield thumps it through covers for a boundary.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Driven through mid-on by the batsman. They pick up a single.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Pushed wide of the man at cover and keeps the strike.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Excitement from Rashid. Quicker and straighter on off, Paul blocks it.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Straight to the man at cover. It is slightly short in length, Paul finds cover to perfection.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Porterfield rocks onto the backfoot and punches the ball. One run added to the total
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. On the pads, WP flicks it to mid-wicket.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Tossed up on middle, Porterfield defends it off his front foot.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Flighted on off, Porterfield plays it wide of mid off and gets a run.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. On the pads, Paul flicks it to the on side for run.
Mohammad Nabi to Paul Stirling. Oh close! Paul tries to free his arm on this tossed up ball outside off but misses.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. This time drives it wide of the man at cover and gets a run.
Mohammad Nabi to William Porterfield. Floated on off, WP plays it to the man at cover.
Mohammad Nabi comes onto bowl now, replacing his skipper.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Flatter on the pads, turned towards mid-wicket by the batsman.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Flatter outside off, cut by Stirling but the ball goes towards point.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Wide! A googly gone wrong, bowled down the leg side. Wided.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Another one fired in on off, defended back down the ground by the batsman.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Flatter on the pads, tucked around the corner for a single by the southpaw.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Punched off the back foot towards the left of long on for a single.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Floated outside off, kept out by the batsman towards the left of point coming ahead. Single picked up.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Pushed towards cover by PS. 10 runs off this over, a really good one for the Irish.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Well outside off now, left alone by the batsman.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Six followed by a four. A length ball outside off, Stirling crunches the drive through covers and picks up another boundary. That came right off the middle. It also brings up the 50 for Paul Stirling. Been a solid innings so far after that early life.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. SIX! You do not bowl short on this pitch. A short slower ball on off, Stirling lifts the ball over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. He is picking the balls to hit here. Really smart batting.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. A length ball outside off, defended back towards the offside from the crease.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Oh close. Tight start from Rashid. Just 2 runs off his first. Quicker outside off, Porterfield looks to defend but gets beaten.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Floats it on off, Paul nudges it wide of cover for a run and that takes the partnership to 50.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. On middle, Paul tucks it to mid-wicket.
Rashid Khan to Paul Stirling. Floated on off, Paul defends it off the front foot.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Floated on off, William drives it to cover and gets a run.
Rashid Khan to William Porterfield. Rashid bowls it short around off, WP hits it straight to mid off.
Rashid Khan comes on to bowl now!
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. On the stumps, Stirling blocks it.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Outside off on a length, Porterfield runs it down to third man for a run.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Play and a miss. Length ball on the fourth stump line, WP looks to cut it but misses.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Outside off on a length, Stirling cuts it to deep point and gets a run.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Length ball on middle, Paul tucks it to mid-wicket.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Good length ball on middle and leg, Paul drives it straight to mid on.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. On the stumps, William defends it confidently to see off the over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Shorter outside off, Porterfield looks to pull but misses.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Paul has punched the ball off the back foot. One run added to the total.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. This time pitches it on off, Porterfield drives it towards cover and gets to the other end.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Full toss on off, Paul hits it long on and gets a run.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Flighted on off, Paul tucks it straight to mid-wicket.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Fuller on off, Willaim drives it straight to mid off. The fielder there fumbles but it does not result in a run.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Play and a miss now. Outside off on a length, Porterfield has a slash at it but misses.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Length ball outside off, Paul hits it to sweeper cover and gets a run.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. On middle and off, Paul hits it straight to mid off this time.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. FOUR! What a shot! Naib offers width outside off, Stirling smacks it through covers for a boundary.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Length ball on off, William tucks it to mid-wicket and gets a run.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Flighted on middle and off, Paul blocks it.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Floated on off, PS blocks it.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Stirling flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. On middle and leg, PS nudges it to long on and gets a run.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. On middle, Paul blocks it.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Shorter ball on off, WP punches it wide of cover and gets a single.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. A single to end the over. Back of a length outside off, driven off the back foot to deep cover for a run as Porterfield keeps strike.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Punched towards cover by the left-hander.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. A good front foot drive towards mid on by the southpaw but the ball barely has any timing for it to go past that fielder.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Pushed towards cover by the Ireland skipper.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Fuller outside off, squeezed away past point for a run by Paul.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. The southpaw has punched this ball off the back foot towards deep cover for a run.
Drinks break. The visitors are clearly on top here at the first break. Ireland have lost two wickets and they are also going at a very slow rate. They will not only have to build a partnership here but also get it at a good rate.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Punched away to deep cover by the southpaw for a run. 2 runs off the last 2 overs, good tight stuff from the Asian side.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Another good ball on the money, Porterfield keeps the ball out from the crease.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Indecision again but no problem in the end. A flatter one pushed to point by Porterfield and he wants the single but he is sent back by his partner.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Another one outside off, kept out by the southpaw.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Flatter outside off, defended on the front foot by Porterfield.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Maiden denied. A length ball on the pads, nudged down fine to fine leg by the southpaw. Porterfield picks up a single and keeps strike for the next over.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Driven towards mid on but the bowler moves to his left and stops the ball.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. The southpaw flicks this ball to the left of mid-wicket and there should have been a single there but it is not taken due to some indecision.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Good shot but finds the fielder. A length ball outside off, driven to cover with good timing but not much placement.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Defended from the crease this time by the batsman.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Back of a length outside off, Porterfield dabs it down towards the left of the keeper.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Make it 5 off the over. A flatter one on middle, cut away to deep point for a run by Porterfield who keeps strike for the next over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Flatter on the pads, turned through square leg for a run by PS. 4 singles so far of the over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Pushed to long on for a single by the southpaw.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Carrom ball this time outside off, WP keeps it out with a forward stride.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Driven through mid on by the right-hander for a single.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Porterfield crunches this short ball outside off to deep point for a single.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot to end the over. 10 runs off it in the end.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Smart cricket! A fuller length ball on the pads, pushed wide of mid on by the southpaw and a single is taken.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. FOUR! Poor ball on the pads. A length ball straying down the leg side, Porterfield glances it away fine and finds the rope.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Tucked through square leg for a run by Stirling.
Gulbadin Naib to William Porterfield. Poor fielding! Asghar Afghan the culprit. A fuller length ball on middle, driven back to mid on where Afghan misses the ball and lets it go through. Ends up conceding two runs more than the single that it should have been.
Oh no! Naib slips on his bowling run-up while jumping to deliver this ball. Looks fine though as he gets back on his feet, sawdust being brought in again for the landing area.
Gulbadin Naib to Paul Stirling. Back of a length outside off, punched away to deep cover for a single by Stirling. That run brings up the 50 for the Irish.
Gulbadin Naib, the skipper brings himself on now to bowl.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Excellent over from Mujeeb, just 1 off it in the end. A flatter one outside off, kept out by the southpaw coming ahead towards point.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. A forward defense from William towards cover.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Around the wicket and outside off on a flatter trajectory. Porterfield defends the ball towards the bowler.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Punched back to long on this time by PS for a single.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Fired in quick outside off, driven hard but straight to cover by Stirling.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Flatter outside off, defended by the batsman coming ahead.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Turned through mid-wicket for a single by Paul Stirling and he retains strike for the next over. 6 runs off this one.
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. Bowled on the pads this time, flicked through backward square leg for a single by Porterfield.
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. A back foot defense from William this time.
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. FOUR! Sweet timing! A fuller length ball outside off, Porterfield drives this past mid off to his left with ease and grace. Picks up a boundary.
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. Pushed towards cover this time by WP.
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. A back of a length ball on off, kept out by the southpaw.
Powerplay 2 time! 4 fielders will be allowed outside the inner circle till the end of the 40th over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Defended off the back foot by the batsman. Ireland are 42/2 at the end of the first 10.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Flatter on middle, PS works it down the leg side.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. A front foot push back onto the surface from Stirling.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Porterfield keeps this ball towards mid-wicket and is called for a quick single by his partner. Good running.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to William Porterfield. Wide! Bowled down the leg side, Porterfield attempts to sweep that one but fails to put bat on ball. It is wided by the umpire.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Paul Stirling. Flatter on middle, tucked towards mid-wicket by Stirling and a single is taken.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman comes onto bowl now! First change this morning.
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. Well outside off, left alone by the skipper. 5 runs and a wicket off the over, good stuff from Zadran!
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. Pushed towards mid off this time by the southpaw.
Dawlat Zadran to William Porterfield. FOUR! Off the mark in style! A fuller length ball on middle, driven back past the bowler through mid on for a boundary.
William Porterfield walks out to bat now.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy Balbirnie. OUT! Caught behind! Brilliant ball and brilliant catch behind the wickets by Shahzad. A length ball outside off, nipping inward. Balbirnie looked to punch this back down the ground but the inward movement means the ball takes the inside edge and goes to the left of the keeper where Mohammad takes a brilliant tumbling catch. The in-form batsman departs and two down now are the hosts and in a spot of bother!
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Flicked away through square leg for a single by PS.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Stirling goes down the track to this ball to stop the movement. He pushes it back down the ground but for no run as there was no timing on that shot.
Aftab Alam to Andy Balbirnie. Four leg byes! A length ball on the hips, Balbirnie looked to glance it fine but did not get bat on it. The ball goes off the sides and fine on the leg side for a boundary which is signalled as leg byes.
Aftab Alam to Andy Balbirnie. Good ball! Goes past the outside edge of the bat once more. A length ball outside off, moves away from the batsman who was looking to defend. Past the outside edge!
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Brilliant stop! A fuller ball on the pads, driven to the right of mid on where the fielder makes a diving stop. Excellent stuff, saved 3 runs there.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Stirling has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Back of a length on off, pushed towards the point region by Stirling.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy Balbirnie. Back of a length on off, swinging inward. Nips back sharply, Balbirnie looks to punch this ball but misses and gets hit high on the thigh pad. An optimistic appeal follows.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Beautiful on-drive! Sign of a man in form! A fuller length ball on middle, driven back past mid on with ease off the front foot. No stopping that one.
Some sawdust being brought on for the landing area... Zadran seemed to have an issue.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy Balbirnie. Back of a length outside off, pushed towards cover by McCollum from the crease.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy Balbirnie. On a length on off, pushed back to the bowler by Balbirnie on the front foot.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. A length ball on off, thick outside half from the batsman. Stirling though picks up a single to third man for a run.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Pushed towards cover by the opening batsman.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Inswinging ball back of a length on off and middle, Stirling flicks this through backward square leg for a single.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. A front foot push towards cover by PS. He wants a quick run but it is not taken in the end. Wise decision.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Defended off the back foot by the batsman towards point.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Loud appeal but turned down! Looks like Stirling has got really lucky there. A ball landing outside off, swinging inward from a length. Paul misses the defensive shot and gets rapped on the pads in front of off stump. The appeal comes up but the umpire does not raise his finger. He must have thought it would be too high or just probably hitting outside off. Either way, Stirling survives.
The bowler having a few problems with his shoe now, some mud stuck in it.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Another good defensive shot from the batsman.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. On a length outside off, tapped towards backward point by Stirling.
Dawlat Zadran to Andy Balbirnie. A back of a length on off, defended back towards the bowler on the back foot confidently by the new man.
Andy Balbirnie is the new man in at number 3.
Dawlat Zadran to James McCollum. OUT! LBW and gone! A length ball on off, slightly coming in with the angle. McCollum looks to tuck that away on the leg side but misses the ball. He gets rapped in front, the appeal goes up and the finger does too. Height could have been a factor there but nothing can be done now. It is an early breakthrough for Afghanistan, it always looked like coming.
Dawlat Zadran to James McCollum. Excellent fielding from Rashid! A length ball outside off, punched off the back foot by McCollum through covers. Rashid runs behind the ball and stops it just inside the rope. Saves 2 runs for his team.
Dawlat Zadran to James McCollum. Good defense back to the bowler's left from McCollum.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Really good running! A back of a length ball on hips, the ball is tucked towards the square leg region off the top half of the bat. An early call means an easy single.
Dawlat Zadran to James McCollum. Quick single again but this time it is easily completed. A length ball on the pads, pushed wide of mid on by JM who gets to the other end.
Some hoardings being moved behind the bowler. Looks like the batsman was being distracted by them...
Aftab Alam to James McCollum. Close shave! McCollum gets off the mark in the end though. A length ball outside off, pushed towards cover by James. He wants a quick single and had the fielder there hit the stumps at the bowler's end, it would have been really tight. Luck going Ireland's way so far. Just a single off this over, good stuff from Alam.
Aftab Alam to James McCollum. Inside edge onto the pads! A fuller length ball outside off, McCollum looks to drive this one but gets an inside edge onto his pad. The ball rolls back down the surface towards the bowler.
Aftab Alam to James McCollum. Kept out from the crease towards the offside by James.
Aftab Alam to James McCollum. Another good defense with a straight bat in presentation.
Aftab Alam to James McCollum. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Aftab Alam to James McCollum. McCollum confidently pushes this ball on the back foot towards cover-point. It was the first ball he faced.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Another outside edge! DROPPED this time! A length ball outside off, Stirling looks to punch off the back foot and the ball goes off the outside edge towards second slip who spills this one which came to him at a good height! Stirling gets a life early on in his innings, will he make the visitors pay? 10 runs off this over.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Edged and FOUR! A length ball outside off, some away movement again and Stirling who was looking to drive gets an outside edge. The ball falls just short of first slip who fails to stop the ball. It goes to the rope behind and fetches Paul a boundary.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Play and a miss outside off! Length ball outside off, Stirling looks to feel the ball on bat is beaten due to the away movement.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Good ball! On a length outside off, Stirling looks to push this one through covers but the ball goes off the outside off along the ground towards the third slip.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Left alone outside off this time by the batsman.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. SIX! What a shot to bring up the first maximum of the day! Short of a length this time from Zadran, Stirling stands tall and pulls this away over deep mid-wicket with ease. Huge!
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Pushed wide of mid on by Paul and he keeps strike yet again for the next over. McCollum is yet to face a ball.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. On a length outside off, pushed off the outside half towards cover-point.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. Back of a length on middle, defended back down the ground.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. A good forward defensive push from Paul towards cover on this ball.
Aftab Alam to Paul Stirling. FOUR! The first boundary of the day. A fuller length ball on the pads, easily flicked away by Stirling through mid-wicket for a boundary. Easy pickings!
Aftab Alam to bowl with the other new ball.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Tucked away behind square on the leg side for a run by PS and he keeps strike.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Ireland off the mark, in a streaky way! A length ball on off, Stirling looks to push the ball but gets it off the thick outside half of the bat and wide of point for a couple of runs.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Another play and a miss! A length ball outside off, Paul tries to keep the ball out but again gets beaten due to the away movement.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. Loud appeal! Not given though. A length ball on off, again some away movement. Stirling fails to put bat on ball as he tries to feel for the ball. It goes off the thigh pad and to the keeper, which caused the bowler to appeal but the umpire notices it.
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. What a jaffa! Starts just outside off on a length and moves away late. Stirling looks to defend the ball but the ball whizzes past the outside edge due to the movement!
Dawlat Zadran to Paul Stirling. On a length outside off to start things here, Stirling lets the ball through to the keeper.
Now that the anthems are done, we are all set for the game to begin. Gulbadin Naib has the final instructions passed and then the fielders head to their positions! The two openers for Ireland will be Paul Stirling and James McCollum. Dawlat Zadran to bowl with one new ball. Let's play!!!
The two teams are lining up on the field for their respective national anthems. Afghanistan is up first followed by the hosts, Ireland!
Afghanistan XI - Mohammad Shahzad (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib (C), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Aftab Alam.
Ireland XI - Paul Stirling, James McCollum, Andy Balbirnie, William Porterfield (C), Kevin O'Brien, Mark Adair, Gary Wilson (WK), George Dockrell, Andy MacBrine, Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin.
TOSS - Afghanistan win the coin flip and elect to bowl first!
Two official ODIs for Afghanistan before their two warm-up games at the Cricket World Cup 2019! They move here from Scotland where they won the only game that could be completed by 2 runs. This though would be new skipper, Gulbadin Naib's first real test. He though has all the stars back in his team after they missed the Scotland tour due to their participation in the Indian T20 League! The Asian side surely would want to make the most of this opportunity and get primed to the conditions that would be somewhat similar at the mega event. The hosts, Ireland, on the other hand, are coming off what could be considered a disappointing series for them. They failed to win a single game in the preceding tri-series against West Indies and Bangladesh. They would hope that moving from Dublin to Belfast would change their luck as well! The away side looks stronger on paper but the game is not decided there so let us look forward to what could be a cracker of a game. The toss from Stormont is not too far away, with conditions currently looking smooth for a start on time, despite a lot of cloud cover around!
So that is all from here at Stormont! An emphatic victory for the Irish. They will now look to win the 2nd game and seal the series on Tuesday, 21st of May. That game will begin at 1045 local (0945 GMT). Join us for the coverage of the same to find out whether Afghanistan can come back harder in the second game and level in the series or not. Till then it is goodbye from us. Take care and cheers!
Victorious Ireland skipper, William Porterfield says that they have played good cricket in patches over the past month but admits that this was a pleasing performance, especially winning by 70-80 runs. Tells that he has built a good relationship with Stirling over the years and it is always good to bat with him. Mentions that they felt that the score was a bit under par and during the start of the defense, they were not bowling well but came back into the game and won it comprehensively in the end.
Afghanistan skipper, Gulbadin Naib says that the bowlers did their job but their batting was not good. Credits the way Ireland bowled and never let them get away. Also praises Stirling and Porterfield for their stand which took Ireland to that total.
Well, not much cannot be said about the batting of Afghanistan as a highest score of 29 will never be good enough. All the batsmen struggled against the right line and lengths bowled by the Irish bowlers. When you get bowled out and five batsmen get single-digit scores, you are always going to be in trouble. That is exactly what happened and Afghanistan slid to a horrific defeat here in Belfast. The captains' thoughts to follow...
The bowling performance was started off brilliantly by Tim Murtagh and Andy McBrine who bowled economically as well as picked two wickets in their opening spell. There on, the pressure was unrelenting and Mark Adair added the gloss on the performance picking up 4 wickets of his own. Boyd Rankin had a tough opening spell but his captain kept him on and he proved the worth with 3 wickets in the middle stages which put Ireland on the top in this game.
This has been an incredible bowling performance from the hosts but on the other hand, a very poor batting show from the away side, Afghanistan. They never got going in the chase of a total that looked under par on that wicket. They were too cautious in the beginning and lost wickets too while playing extremely slowly. They could never recover from that and eventually the pressure got to them and they kept losing wickets, crumbling to a defeat. Ireland though must be credited for the right lines and lengths that they bowled, never letting the visitors get any sort of advantage in the chase.
Mark Adair to Mujeeb Ur Rahman. OUT! Caught and bowled! It is all over here! IRELAND WIN BY 72 RUNS!!! A remarkable catch to bring the game to an end. A fuller ball on middle, Mujeeb hits the ball back to the bowler who gets his arm up in front of his face and holds onto the sharp return catch. Mujeeb cannot believe this. Meanwhile, Adair picks up his 4th wicket! We cannot believe this, Afghanistan have blown up a chase of 210 and fallen to a demoralizing loss.
Mark Adair to Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Fuller one on middle first up to Mujeeb, he hits it firmly to mid on who makes a good tumbling stop. He even throws the ball back in anger at the non-striker's end.
Mark Adair to Gulbadin Naib. OUT! That could be the final nail in the Afghanistan coffin. Naib holes out at long on trying to smash his way to a win. A length ball on off, Gulbadin wants to hit a maximum over the bowler's head but fails to get enough power on that ball as it goes off the inside. It goes high and the substitute fielder, Kane there settles under the ball and takes a very good, calm catch! Just one away now from the win are Ireland!
Mark Adair to Gulbadin Naib. Defended off the back foot by Naib to this ball on a length outside off.
Boyd Rankin to Aftab Alam. FOUR! Shot! Aftab Alam had no half-measures there. A short of a length ball on middle, Alam pulls this through mid-wicket. The ball raced away to the fence. Brilliant shot, just swung through the line.
Boyd Rankin to Aftab Alam. Back of a length outside off, Aftab pushes the ball towards backward point after getting out of the way.
Boyd Rankin to Aftab Alam. Aftab Alam defends the ball with a straight bat.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. Gulbadin pushes the ball through point for a single.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. Poor ball! On the pads, Naib has nudged the ball fine down the leg side. The ball races to the boundary. Four runs have been signalled by The Umpire.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. Back of a length outside off, Naib gets it off the outside half to the left of point. Two runs taken.
Mark Adair to Aftab Alam. Outside off on a length, Aftab looks to hit the ball outside off but is beaten.
Mark Adair to Gulbadin Naib. Pulled away to deep mid-wicket by Naib for a run.
Mark Adair to Aftab Alam. This ball is hit towards mid on uppishly by Alam and the ball lands just short. That could have been out had the fielder reacted a bit more quickly there. A single is taken as the batsmen run through.
Mark Adair to Gulbadin Naib. A misfield slight one by Dockrell at cover means the batsmen can pick up a single.
Mark Adair to Gulbadin Naib. Defended towards the offside by GN.
Mark Adair to Gulbadin Naib. FOUR! Good effort but in vain! A short length ball on middle, Naib pulls this away through mid-wicket. The fielder chases it, dives to keep it in but the effort goes in vain as the body was in contact with the rope at the same time as the ball.
Mark Adair comes back on now.
Boyd Rankin to Aftab Alam. Outside off, Aftab wanted to play that ball but lets it alone in the end.
Boyd Rankin to Aftab Alam. Defended off the front foot by the new batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Aftab Alam walks in at number 10.
Boyd Rankin to Dawlat Zadran. OUT! Third wicket for Rankin! The wheels are coming off really hard here for the visitors. A short length ball on middle, Zadran looks to pull this but gets a top edge. The ball lobs towards the keeper, Gary Wilson who takes the simplest of catches. This has been one big turnaround from the hosts!
Boyd Rankin to Dawlat Zadran. On a length on middle, pushed defensively back to the bowler.
Boyd Rankin to Dawlat Zadran. Back of a length on off, Zadran defends the ball towards cover. Looks for a quick single but it would have been suicidal.
Drinks break. Ireland are cruising at the moment. With 91 needed off 107 balls. This is surely Ireland's game to lose now. They are just 3 wickets away from sealing this game here. Dawlat Zadran will walk out to bat after the break.
Boyd Rankin to Rashid Khan. OUT! The seventh one goes down! Afghanistan are now in a huge spot of bother. Rashid Khan departs now. A short ball outside off, Rashid looks to hit it over mid off but fails to time it. It goes straight to William Porterfield at mid off who makes no mistake. Ireland will now feel really in the driver's seat! Gulbadin Naib would be the only one who can really take the game away from them now onward.
Kevin O'Brien to Rashid Khan. Rashid will keep the strike. He strokes the last ball to long on and gets a run.
Kevin O'Brien to Rashid Khan. SIX! Second six in the over and Rashid is playing the way he knows to play. As they say attack is the best form of defence. Rashid gets another full ball on off, this time he smashes it over the long off fence for a six.
Kevin O'Brien to Rashid Khan. On the stumps, Rashid blocks it with a straight bat.
Kevin O'Brien to Rashid Khan. Good length ball on off, Rashid hits it straight to cover.
Kevin O'Brien to Rashid Khan. Back of a length ball on off, Rashid pulls it wide of the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a couple.
Kevin O'Brien to Rashid Khan. SIX! That's out of here! Full length ball on off, it is in Rashid's zone. He whacks it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
Boyd Rankin to Rashid Khan. Another length ball on middle, Rashid blocks it off his front foot and takes a single as the ball goes towards cover.
Boyd Rankin to Rashid Khan. Back of a length ball on off, Khan defends it with straight bat.
Boyd Rankin to Rashid Khan. Another incoming delivery on middle and leg, Rashid cannot do much but just block it.
Boyd Rankin to Rashid Khan. Length ball on the body, Rashid cannot do much but just block it.
Rashid Khan walks out to bat.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. OUT! Boyd Rankin strikes. Ireland have got the wicket they were looking for. Good length ball pitching on off. It comes in after hitting the deck. Afghan looks to defend but gets beaten by the inward movement. The ball hits him on his knee roll. The Irish players all go up in appeal and the umpire slowly raises his finger.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. A length delivery on middle and leg, Gulbadin Naib flicks it to fine leg for a run.
Kevin O'Brien to Gulbadin Naib. Single to end the over. On the pads, Naib flicks it down the leg side for a run.
Kevin O'Brien to Gulbadin Naib. On off, Naib blocks it.
Kevin O'Brien to Asghar Afghan. Back of a length ball on off, Afghan defends it with soft hands and takes a quick single as the ball goes towards cover. George Dockrell gets to the ball and has a shy at the keeper's end. He hits the target and Wilson was confident they had got their man. But the square leg umpire says that Naib was in and rules his decision in the batsman's favour.
Kevin O'Brien to Gulbadin Naib. On the pads once again and Naib flicks it to the on side for one.
Kevin O'Brien to Asghar Afghan. On the pads, Afghan looks to flick but it goes off his thigh pad towards fine leg and they take a leg bye.
Kevin O'Brien to Gulbadin Naib. Length ball on off, Naib plays it towards cover and gets a run.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. Pulled away for a single to deep square leg.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. Short of a length this time, Naib goes for the pull but fails to connect.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Boyd Rankin to Gulbadin Naib. Angled fine on the off side for a couple of runs this time by Naib.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. A length ball outside off, Afghan looks to cut this through point The ball goes to third man for a single.
Gulbadin Naib walks out to bat next.
Kevin O'Brien to Mohammad Nabi. OUT! No luck this time and Kevin this time finds the outside edge of Nabi's bat. Good length ball outside off. Nabi goes chasing after it. He plays a lazy drive and after the previous ball missing the outside edge, this time they get it. The 54-run stand is broken and Afghanistan have half their side back in the hut.
Kevin O'Brien to Mohammad Nabi. Just misses. Length ball outside off, Nabi looks to drive but misses. It was not too far away from the outside edge.
Kevin O'Brien to Asghar Afghan. On the pads, Asghar flicks it to square leg for a run.
Kevin O'Brien to Asghar Afghan. Length ball on the stumps, Asghar defends it with straight bat.
Kevin O'Brien to Asghar Afghan. Length ball on off, Afghan blocks it off his front foot.
Kevin O'Brien to Asghar Afghan. WIDE! Kevin misses his line and bowls it down the leg side. Afghan looks to flick it but misses. Wide signalled.
Kevin O'Brien to Asghar Afghan. Fuller on off, Afghan blocks it off the front foot.
Kevin O'Brien into the attack now.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Good length ball outside off, Nabi lets it go the keeper.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. On the pads, Afghan flicks it to fine leg for a run.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Length ball outside off, Afghan slaps it over point and wide of sweeper cover for a couple.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. In the air...but safe. Back of a length ball on off, Nabi pulls it over mid-wicket but does not time it well. The ball falls short of the fielder in the deep and they take a run.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Good length ball outside off, Nabi looks to drive but misses.
Mohammad Nabi needing some attention now after copping a blow on the finger of his right hand.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. A short delivery on off, Nabi looks to defend it on the back foot but the ball hits him on his glove.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Fuller length around off, Afghan tries looks to defend but misses the ball, the ball hits the pads. A huge appeal by the bowler denied by the umpire.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Full on off, Nabi drives it to mid off for a run.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! A short delivery this time, Nabi rocks back and pulls it above the mid-wicket region for another maximum.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. SIX! Just what Afghanistan wanted. A flighted delivery on middle and leg, Nabi dances down the track and lofts it over the mid-wicket fence for a huge six.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Full on leg, Nabi plays it back to the bowler.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Back of a length on off, Asghar looks to defend it but gets beaten, miss by the keeper results in a run. Bye signalled.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Another flick for a single by AA. 10 runs off this over, just what the doctor ordered for Afghanistan.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Nabi flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Wide! This one is down the leg side and has been penalised by the umpire. Rankin is all over the place today.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Afghan pulls this short ball away on the leg side. Single taken easily.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. FOUR! Rankin is proving to be just the blessing in disguise that Afghanistan needed. The ball is full on the pads, flicked away through backward square leg and all the way to the fence for a boundary.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Straying down the leg side again, Afghan looks to flick that ball away but misses. It takes the shirt on its way through. The bowler mistakes it for an edge and hence appeals but the umpire is unfazed.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Wide! Bowled way, way down the offside. It is outside the tramline and hence has been wided by the umpire.
Boyd Rankin to Asghar Afghan. Wide! This one is down the leg side and has been wided by the umpire.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Flights it on off, Afghan strokes it towards cover and gets a run.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. FOUR! Swept and swept fine. Floated on middle and leg, Afghan plays the sweep wide of short fine leg towards the square leg region for a boundary.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. On the stumps, Afghan calmly blocks it.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. On the pads, Afghan flicks it to the man at square leg.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Shorter on off, Nabi slaps it to sweeper cover for a run.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Floated on off, Nabi blokc sit off his front foot.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Bowled on the hips, Nabi misses the flick. The ball goes off the side of the batsman and a leg bye is stolen.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! Another freebie from Rankin. A length ball on the pads, Nabi runs the ball fine on the leg side with ease. Another boundary, the second of the over. This comes as a welcome change of pace for Afghanistan.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Wide! Down the leg side and it is wided.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. FOUR! Welcome runs for Afghanistan! A length ball on the pads, Nabi runs it really fine on the leg side. These are easy pickings for a batsman of his caliber.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. Defended solidly by MN onto the surface on the front foot.
Boyd Rankin to Mohammad Nabi. A length ball outside off, Nabi looks to cut this ball away but fails to put bat on ball as it just moves away at the last moment.
Boyd Rankin comes on to bowl now.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Floated on middle, Afghan tucks it to mid-wicket.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. FOUR! Excellent use of the feet. Tossed up on middle and leg, Afghan comes down the track and lofts it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Short on the body, Nabi milks it down to long on and rotates the strike.
George Dockrell to Asghar Afghan. Short outside off, Afghn looks to cut but gets a thick outside edge towards third man for a single..
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Shorter off spinner on off, Nabi strokes it to covers and gets a run.
George Dockrell to Mohammad Nabi. Starts with a flatter delivery on off, Nabi looks to defend but does so off the inner portion of his bat.
George Dockrell replaces Andy McBrine.
Mark Adair to Asghar Afghan. Dot to finish the over. 7 runs off the last 3. The last ball is on off, Asghar defends it to see off the over.
Mark Adair to Asghar Afghan. Length ball on off, it moves away after pitching. Afghan has a poke at it but misses.
Mark Adair to Asghar Afghan. On middle and leg, Afghan flicks it to mid-wicket.
Mark Adair to Mohammad Nabi. Good length ball on off, Nabi taps it to point and gets a run.
Mark Adair to Mohammad Nabi. On the stumps, Nabi defends it with straight bat.
Mark Adair to Mohammad Nabi. Length ball on off, Nabi gets on his front foot and blocks it.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Stand up and applaud this guy! 4 maidens in an ODI! A flatter one on middle to end, pushed back to the bowler by the former skipper. McBrine finishes his quota of overs. He has incredible figures of 10-4-17-0!!!
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Fired in on the pads, flicked again to the same fielder.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Flatter on middle, flicked by AA to mid-wicket.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Another flatter one on off, cut away by Afghan towards the point fielder.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Asghar looks to turn this ball towards mid-wicket but cannot time the ball well.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Flatter on middle, kept out towards the offside by the batsman.
Mohammad Nabi walks out to bat.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. OUT! Adair gets another one. He once again hits the length hard and bowls it outside off, Shahidi looks play it on the off side but gets a thick outside edge which goes straight to Gary Wilson behind the stumps. He takes a simple catch. Shahidi starts walking and the players are excited.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Play and a miss. Length ball outside off, Shahidi has a poke at it but misses.
Mark Adair to Asghar Afghan. On the pads, Asghar flicks it to square leg and gets a run.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Outside off on a length, Shahidi taps it down to third man for a run.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Full on off, Shahidi hits it straight to mid off.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. FOUR! What a shot! Full outside off, It is in Shahidi's slot. He cream his drive through covers for a boundary.
Drinks break! Ireland have choked Afghanistan's chase here and are right on top. Another wicket or two will mean that the visitors will be in extreme trouble. They need a partnership and some boundaries to get them going. The good thing working in their favour is that the total is not a very big one. A very entertaining passage of play lies ahead, who will come on top?
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. On the pads, Afghan flicks it but finds square leg.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. On the stumps, Asghar blocks it off his front foot.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Floated on off, Shahidi milks it to long on and gets a run.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. On the pads, Shahidi lofts it to mid-wicket but does not time it well so gets only one.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Tossed up on off, Shahidi pushes it to cover.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Floated on off, Shahidi blocks it off his front foot.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. On off, Shahidi strokes it wide of mid off and gets a run.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. On a length on off, Shahidi strokes it to the man at cover.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Good length ball on off, Shahidi strokes it to cover.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Length ball on off, Shahidi pushes it to point.
Mark Adair to Asghar Afghan. Full again outside off, Afghan taps it to point and gets a run.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Full length ball on off, Shahidi drives it to covers and takes a quick run as the fielder there fumbles.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Flatter on middle and leg, turned towards mid-wicket by Shahidi for a run. McBrine's figures read 8-3-14-0 now!!!
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Fired in on off, the batsman defends the ball back to the bowler once more.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Flatter on middle, defended back down the ground to the bowler by the southpaw.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Turned away through mid-wicket for a single by AA.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Shorter this time outside off, Asghar chops the ball past extra cover to his right. Long off comes around and cuts the ball. 2 runs taken in the time.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Flatter on middle, pushed towards mid-wicket by Afghan.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Patted towards point by the batsman. Just 1 run off this over.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Back of a length on middle, HS defends back down the ground.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Another ball outside off that is left alone by Shahidi.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Outside off, left alone by the southpaw at the last moment.
Mark Adair to Asghar Afghan. Quick single! This is what you need to do when the runs have dried up. Asghar pats this ball towards the off side and calls his partner for a quick single.
Mark Adair to Asghar Afghan. Length ball outside off, Afghan looks to hit this ball on the off side but fails to put bat on ball once more.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Maiden over. He has been very good in this game so far. He bowls a flatter one on the stumps, Shahidi comes down and taps it back to the bowler.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. 5 dots in a row now. This is floated on off, strokes it to the man at cover.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Quicker through the air on middle, Shahidi defends it off his inner half of his bat.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Tosses it up on off, Shahidi comes down the track and defends it.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Flighted on middle and leg, Shahidi taps it back to the bowler.
Andy McBrine to Hashmatullah Shahidi. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Length ball outside off, Shahidi taps it down to third man and gets off the mark. Brilliant over from Adair. Tremendous start. Just a single and a wicket off his first.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. On off, Shahidi does not take any risk and just blocks it.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. On the stump now, Shahidi defends it with straight bat.
Mark Adair to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Outside off, Shahidi leaves it alone.
Hashmatullah Shahidi walks out to bat.
Mark Adair to Hazratullah Zazai. OUT! Bowled 'em. Big wicket for Ireland. They know how dangerous Zazai can be having seen it in the T20I earlier in the year. Adair has got the breakthrough in his very first over. Length ball pitching on middle and off, Zazai looks to pull, but the ball is not short and it goes onto disturb the off stump. The Irish players are happy and why won't they be?
Mark Adair to Hazratullah Zazai. Starts right on the money. Length ball going away with the angle. It is on the body of Zazai blocks it.
Mark Adair is introduced into the attack.
Andy McBrine to Asghar Afghan. Floated on off and middle, Afghan keeps it out.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. On middle and leg, Zazai glances it to mid-wicket for a run.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Tossed up on off, Zazai defends it off his front foot.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Appeal for lbw turned down. Floated on middle and leg, Zazai looks to sweep but gets hit on the pad. Andy was excited but the umpire was not. The keeper also was not too keen.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Floated on the stumps, Zazai looks to defend but does so off the inner half of his bat.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Tossed up on off, Zazai strokes it to the man at cover.
Tim Murtagh to Asghar Afghan. Another maiden from Murtagh! A length ball wide outside off, left alone by the batsman. This is unbelievable stuff from Tim!
Tim Murtagh to Asghar Afghan. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Tim Murtagh to Asghar Afghan. Back of a length on middle, Afghan looks to whip this ball away but misses and gets hit high on the thigh pad. An appeal comes, it is very optimistic though.
Tim Murtagh to Asghar Afghan. Asghar looks to poke at this ball outside the off stump but fails to put bat on ball as it holds its line instead of coming inward like the first two balls.
Tim Murtagh to Asghar Afghan. Coming in again, turned off the pads by Afghan towards mid-wicket.
Tim Murtagh to Asghar Afghan. Back of a length and coming into him from outside off, defended from the crease
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Another defensive stroke from HZ. What a brilliant start this has been from the Irish! Afghanistan are 21/2 at the 10 over mark.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai comes ahead and keeps this ball out.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Hazratullah looks to work this drifting ball on middle and leg away but fails to put bat on ball. He gets hit on the pad but nothing too worrisome.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai defends this ball onto the surface once more.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Flatter on off, kept out by Zazai coming ahead.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. On the pads, Zazai flicks it to fine leg and gets a single. End of an excellent over. Just 2 runs and a wicket.
Tim Murtagh to Asghar Afghan. Murtagh bowls it on off, Asghar looks to cut but gets a thick outside edge down to third man for one.
Asghar Afghan is the new man in.
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. OUT! Caught! Three dots on the trot and Rahmat got under pressure. Murtagh smartly bangs one in short. Rahmat looks to pull it but gets a top edge which goes aerially to mid-wicket. Paul Stirling there takes a dolly. He is not going to drop those and Afghanistan lose their second wicket.
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. Fuller on off, Shah drives it straight to mid off.
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. Once again Tim bowls it on a length around off, Shah solidly blocks it.
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. Good length ball on off. The ball comes in after pitching. Rahmat looks to defend but it goes to mid-wicket off the inner half of his bat.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. HZ goes for the wild swing this time but once again, completely loses the radar of the ball and misses it. This is excellent bowling so far from Ireland, the visitors are not even scoring at 2.5 runs per over.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Length ball on middle and leg, Zazai tucks this towards the fielder at square leg.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. FOUR! What a shot! Right off the middle of the bat. A flatter one on middle, Zazai hits this one through mid off. No stopping that one.
Andy McBrine to Rahmat Shah. Fuller on middle, driven to long on for a run by Rahmat.
Andy McBrine to Rahmat Shah. This time the batsman goes back in the crease and keeps the ball out from the crease.
Andy McBrine to Rahmat Shah. Flatter on off, Rahmat has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Hazratullah has failed to put bat on ball this time again outside off stump. The ball is moving a bit here!
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai looks to smash this one through the offside but the ball moves away at the last moment to go past the outside edge.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. FOUR! Terrific shot! A fluent drive from Zazai this time and the ball finds the gap through the covers. Some pressure relieved!
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. Only a single as Zazai falls while trying to turn around and come for the second run. A length ball on the pads, flicked away through mid-wicket. Two runs were easy there but unfortunately the batsman slipped at the non-striker's end.
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. On a length on off, Rahmat keeps this ball out back onto the surface.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Shorter and quicker on middle, defended from the crease by the opening batsman.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Flighted outside off, this time Zazai drives the ball to cover.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Flatter on off, chopped towards cover.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Fired in quicker and full on off, the southpaw comes ahead and defends the ball into the surface.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Flatter outside off, patted towards point by the left-hander.
Andy McBrine to Rahmat Shah. Flatter on the pads, turned away through mid-wicket by Shah for a run.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Hazratullah this time looks to smash this one over the bowler's head but fails to put bat on ball. Another excellent over for Ireland, 1 run off it and a wicket as well.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Length ball outside off, punched hard but straight to mid off by the southpaw.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Back of a length outside off, Zazai punches this ball towards cover.
Tim Murtagh to Rahmat Shah. Fuller one on middle, Rahmat is off the mark with a flick shot through mid-wicket. Single taken.
Rahmat Shah walks out at number 3.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. OUT! Struck in front and the finger goes up! On a length on middle, Shahzad looks to flick this away but the ball is missed by him. He gets hit in front of the wickets. The appeal is not even completed and the finger went up! This is the early wicket that Ireland so desperately needed. This could be a really tricky chase if Afghanistan lose early wickets.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. Back of a length outside off, Shahzad pushes this ball towards point.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai pushes this ball towards cover. 2nd maiden on the trot!
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Flatter one on the pads, Zazai looks to flick this ball but it goes away slightly aerially towards square leg.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Another flatter one on off, kept out by Hazratullah coming ahead.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Watchfully defended by the southpaw once more.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Flatter outside off, Zazai defends the ball on the front foot.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. Another back foot defense this time from Mohammad. Maiden from Murtagh!
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. On a length on middle, kept out from the crease towards mid-wicket by MS. They want a single but fail to get one.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. On a length on middle, kept out again by Mohammad.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. This keeps slightly low on middle but MS adjusts and keeps this ball out with a good defensive shot.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. On a length outside off, Shahzad comes ahead and defends the ball back down the ground.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Andy McBrine to Hazratullah Zazai. Flatter outside off, Zazai chops this ball really late past the slip fielder. 2 runs are taken.
Andy McBrine to Mohammad Shahzad. Shahzad mistimes a lofted shot over mid on. A single is taken. The batsman looked to go against the turn there, could have been really risky.
Andy McBrine to Mohammad Shahzad. MS prods ahead and defends this ball back down the ground.
Andy McBrine to Mohammad Shahzad. Shahzad flicks this ball towards the leg side to the square leg fielder.
Andy McBrine to Mohammad Shahzad. Flatter one outside off first up from the offie, Shahzad defends from the crease.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Dot to finish the over. Four runs off the first over. It is outside off, Zazai taps it to the man at point.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai is off the mark too. He also does so with a flick wide of fine leg for a couple.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Outside off on a length, Zazai taps it to short third man.
Tim Murtagh to Hazratullah Zazai. Good length ball outside off, Zazai looks to defend but gets beaten.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. Shahzad is off the mark. On the pads, he flicks it to fine leg for a run.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. Now corrects his line and bowl it on off, Shahzad looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
Tim Murtagh to Mohammad Shahzad. WIDE! The chase is off the mark, albeit with a wide. Not the start Ireland would have wanted. Murtagh bowls it down the leg side, Shahzad looks to flick it but misses.
We are back for the chase. The Irish players are out on the field and take their fielding positions. Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai are the openers for Afghanistan. Tim Murtagh has one new ball in hand and will bowl the first over.