Afghanistan, led by captain Rashid Khan, won the second Twenty20 international of their three-match series in Sharjah on Friday by a margin of 10 runs. Afghanistan’s bowling attack was too formidable for Ireland. As Ireland’s multi-format tour against Afghanistan draws to a close, Afghanistan’s victory ties the series 1-1. Gareth Delany played a heroic 39 off 18 balls, but it was all in vain as Ireland could not muster the 18 runs needed in the final over to win. One six was insufficient because Delany was caught on the boundary off of Fazalhaq Farooqi in the penultimate ball, which was stopped for no run.
The opening part
nership of Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling, which lasted for 49 runs before Stirling was removed in the sixth over, gave the visitors a strong start to their 153 run chase.
Star spinner Khan followed the Irish captain with a 10-run innings and a first-baller for Harry Tector, and that was the end of Ireland’s run chase.
Nangeyalia Kharote dismissed Balbirnie leg before wicket on 45 with just 5.1 overs remaining, leaving Ireland’s tail too much to do, even with Delany’s late heroics.
With four wickets for just 14 runs, Khan virtually won the match for the home team when he dismissed George Dockrell and Mark Adair in his double-wicket 16th over.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Afghanistan amassed 152-9 in their 20 overs.
Before Ben White’s bowling caught him, Mohammad Nabi top-scored for the hosts with 59 off 38, including six fours and three sixes.
The best bowler in Ireland, Adair finished with figures of 3-27 as Afghanistan’s top order faltered, with Mohammad Ishaq at number four and Azmatullah Omarzai at number five both taking home golden ducks.
With 6.5 overs remaining, Afghanistan was down 93-5 after opener Sediqullah Atal was run out on 35, the only other out-and-out batter to provide any real resistance.
At number nine, though, Khan steadied the ship with a brilliant knock of 25 from 12 balls, taking Afghanistan over 150.
After taking three wickets in the opening Twenty20 International on Friday, Josh Little again demonstrated his skill with the ball by dismissing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over.
After Afghanistan won the ODI series earlier in March, Ireland will be looking to add a T20I series victory to their Test victory in the tour’s final match, which takes place in Sharjah on Monday.
