BELFAST: George Dockrell saw Ireland to a narrow T20 International series win over Afghanistan in a rain-affected finale at Stormont on Wednesday.

Dockrell hit the winning run with two balls to spare after Ireland had been set a revised target of 56 in seven overs, with a seven-wicket victory giving the hosts the five-match contest 3-2.

Ireland paceman Mark Adair removed openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in his first over after home skipper Andy Balbirnie won the toss.

And when Adair dismissed Ibrahim Zadran, he had figures of 3-16, with Afghanistan 26-3 inside four overs.

Usman Ghani, however, led an Afghanistan counter-attack after Josh Little had Najibullah Zadran and captain Mohammad Nabi caught behind by Lorcan Tucker off successive deliveries.

But having made an unbeaten 44, off just 40 balls — including three fours and two sixes — Ghani’s innings was curtailed by rain, with Afghanistan 95-5 off 15 overs.

A lengthy delay left Ireland chasing a revised target.

Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman had Balbirnie lbw for nine and when he had Paul Stirling (16) caught at midwicket, Ireland were 38-2.

That became 45-3 when Tucker fell to leg-spinner Rashid Khan for 14.

But Harry Tector and Dockrell then held their nerve as Ireland won with three wickets down.

Scoreboard

AFGHANISTAN:

Hazratullah Zazai c Simi b Adair 10

Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Tucker b Adair 4

Ibrahim Zadran c McCarthy b Adair 8

Usman Ghani not out 44

Najibullah Zadran c Tucker b Little 10

Mohammad Nabi c Tucker b Little 0

Azmatullah Omarzai not out 15

EXTRAS (W-4) 4

TOTAL (for five wickets, 15 overs) 95

DID NOT BAT: Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-14 (Hazratullah), 2-16 (Rahmanullah), 3-26 (Ibrahim), 4-66 (Najibullah), 5-66 (Nabi)

BOWLING: Little 3-0-14-2 (2w), Adair 2-0-16-3, McCarthy 3-0-14-0 (2w), Campher 4-0-21-0, Delany 2-0-1-0-0, Simi Singh1-0-2-0

IRELAND:

P. Stirling c Naveen b Mujeeb 16

A. Balbirnie lbw b Mujeeb 9

L. Tucker c Fareed b Rashid 14

H. Tector not out 9

G. Dockrell not out 7

EXTRAS (LB-1) 1

TOTAL (for three wickets, 6.4 overs) 56

DID NOT BAT: C. Campher, G. Delany, M. Adair, S. Singh, B. McCarthy, J. Little

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (Balbirnie), 2-38 (Stirling), 3-45 (Tucker)

BOWLING: Naveen 1-0-7-0, Fareed 1.4-0-14-0, Mujeeb 2-0-17-2, Rashid 2-0-17-1

RESULT: Ireland won by seven wickets (D/L method)

SERIES: Ireland won the five-match series 3-2.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2022