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That is it from the first match of the T20 series. We hope you enjoyed the coverage! Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for all the cricketing action around the globe, for now, this is Sourabh along with Rudransh taking your leave. Good night!
Paul Stirling (Ireland captain) - Really happy with the energy, a complete team performance, delighted with the win. Really big week ahead, a couple of matches to go, we want to win the series, expecting Afghanistan to improve. People want to see good cricket, the passion comes out sometimes. I think we want to perform as a team, it would be a disservice to mention players individually, we want to play well as a unit.
Ben White is the Player of the Match, let's hear from him: Amazing! Really nice to contribute for Ireland. Plenty of time spent at ice-cold North County (due to injury). You have to respect the umpire's decision (on tempers flaring). Absolutely! (on the wicket becoming sweeter later).
Time for the post-match presentations!
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland won by 38 runs
Harry Tector 56*(34) | Ben White 4/20(4) Mohammad Ishaq 32(22) | Rashid Khan 3/19(4)
Ireland have put up an exceptional performance with the ball and in the field and have skittled out Afghanistan on 111 taking a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
Chasing 150, Afghanistan got off to the worst possible start and lost their prolific opener Gurbaz off the first delivery. It kept getting worst for them as Josh Little got 2 in 2 in the next over and the hosts were reduced to 4/3.
Mohammad Ishaq tried to counter attack and played some lovely strokes on his way to 32 but he too was dismissed in the seventh over and Afghanistan just could not recover. Their only hope was Mohammad Nabi but he too succumbed to the pressure in the 15th over and it was all over for them. Well, to be honest, it never looked like they could chase this down but the big man's presence at the crease just delayed the inevitable.
They were not able to form any partnerships and surrendered to what was an all-round performance from the Irish in the field. Ben White was the pick of the bowlers getting 4 wickets but the pacers were really special. McCarthy got 3 while Little and Adair picked up 2 and 1 wickets respectively.
Earlier in the piece, Ireland recovered from 72/5 and smashed 42 runs off the last 3 overs to get to a competitive total of 149 which at one moment looked improbable. Harry Tector was the star with the bat with an unbeaten 56* but Mark Adair also deserves a special mention for his partnership at the end with Tector.
For Afghanistan, their superstar Rashid Khan made a comeback and it seemed as if he had never gone away, he picked up 3 wickets and was their best bowler as he so often is. Kharote, the debutant, also chipped in with 2 wickets and had a good night with the ball.
18.4 Berry McCarthy to Naveen-Ul-Haq, THERE COMES THE FINAL WICKET! Only the second time in 23 matches that Ireland bowl Afghanistan out. Full and wide outside off, throws his hands at it and goes over point but straight in the hands of the fielder placed in the deep! Ireland take home a 36-run win and take a 1-0 lead in the series!
Naveen ul Haq c Gareth Delany b Barry McCarthy 13 (15b, 1x4, 1x6).
18.3 Berry McCarthy to Naveen-Ul-Haq, short and wide outside off, misses the high slash
18.2 Berry McCarthy to Naveen-Ul-Haq, full on off, drives it hard down the ground and rejects the single
18.1 Berry McCarthy to Naveen-Ul-Haq, FOUR! Full and wide, throws his bat at it, gets a top-edge that flies over point! Runs are runs!