Rashid Khan claims 5 for 3

Afghanistan cricket team on Friday comprehensively beat the Ireland team by 17 runs (D/L method) in the second T20 international played at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, Uttar Pradesh.

In response to Afghanistan’s 184, Ireland only managed to put 93/9.

Afghan bowler Rashid Khan produced some hard to believe bowling figures when he sent 5 Irish batsmen back to pavilion at the expense of just 3 runs.

Afghanistan cricket team posted a commendable total of 184 runs. Afghanistan opener Najeeb Tarakai was phenomenal, playing a swashbuckling innings of 90 runs off just 58 balls. The Afghan’s innings included 7 fours and 5 sixes as he fell a mere 10 runs short of a century.

None of his other compatriots offered much to the scoreboard as captain Asghar Stanikzai fell prey to a brilliant Barry McCarthy delivery at a meager score of 4. Karim Janat (20) and Mohammad Nabi (34) both faced 15 deliveries each, helping Afghanistan give a target of 185 runs to Ireland.

The most successful bowler for Ireland’s side was Barry McCarthy who bagged 4 for 33 and helped in dismantling the top batting order of Afghanistan.

Chasing 185 to win in 20 overs, Ireland started the innings comfortably putting up a score of 66 runs at the loss of 2 wickets in 6 overs. However, the batting line-up fell like a house of cards after that as Rashid Khan’s bowling proved too hard to handle.

Afghanistan and Ireland are playing a 3 T20 and 5 ODI match series at the cricket ground of Greater Noida.

Afghanistan gave a good kick-start to the series winning the first T20 international by 6 wickets, thanks to Shenwari (56) and Shahzad (47).

Source: Agencies