Ireland would be elated in First T20. This has been a superb performance from the Irish unit. Never thought 150 would be a winning total. But the Irish bowlers were switched on from ball one and never allowed much freedom to the batters of Afghanistan. Ireland would be happy that they take 1-0 lead.
Afghanistan (Playing XI) : Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Ishaq(wk), Rashid Khan(c), Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveen-ul-haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Ireland (Playing XI) : Paul Stirling(c), Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(wk), Neil Rock, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little, Benjamin White
Starting from the First T20, Afghanistan bowler’s performed very well in the middle overs of the match. Despite strong start by Ireland openers Andrew and Paul in the powerplay. Afghanistan captain Rashid khan and debutant Nangeyalia Kharote’s impressive spell 3/19 and 2/16 in their 4 overs respectively. In the last 5 over of the first inning, Harry Tector’s aggressive batting helped to reach a good total of 149 runs.
In the second inning, there is not much to write about afghan batters. They kept losing wickets whenever a good partnership built. Mohammad Ishaq and Mohammad Nabi showed some intent in middle over of the inning and scored 31 and 25 respectively. But, they did not win the game for their team.
Irish bowler Benjamin White wins the Player of the Match who is take the four wicket-haul for his team.
Ahead of the First T20 series opener between Afghanistan and Ireland, all the hype had been about Rashid Khan. He was to return to action after four months out due to a back injury and then surgery. Rashid was back in high spirits almost as if no pain could take his impact away. Except that on the night, his efforts of 3 for 19 from four overs were overshadowed by those of Harry Tector, with whom rested a bigger force – luck.
Dropped on 19 when Ireland were 90 for 5 in the 15th over, Tector went on to smash an unbeaten 56 off 34 balls to propel Ireland to 149. The ball followed him on the field too, as he took four catches – the most by an Ireland fielder in a T20I. Tector’s bowling team-mates were then led by leg-spinner Ben White, who took 4 for 20, as Afghanistan folded for 111. That gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, even as the stadium in Sharjah seemed to empty only when Rashid fell as the ninth Afghanistan wicket.
