Afghanistan vs Ireland 2nd T20I Highlights: It was a fairly comfortable chase for Ireland and barring a moment where they lost three quick wickets, they looked very confident and assured in the chase.
Ireland need 123 runs to win. This should be an easy win unless Rashid Khan and other Afghanistan bowlers step up. This will be a huge win for Ireland if they get to the target after playing so well in recent times.
Afghanistan have lost 7 wickets and things are looking gloomy for them. They won’t be able to post a big score now and will have to ask for a miracle from their bowlers of they need to keep the series alive.
Ireland have choked Afghanistan by removing their top five batters in the second T20I. However, AFG have a good bowling attack and Hashmatullah Shahidi is still out there. If he can drag Afghanistan to 150 then it will not be easy for Ireland to chase.
The Mohammad Nabi– led Afghanistan will step on the Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast to save the three-match T20I series against Andrew Balbirnie-led Ireland. Ireland defeated Afghanistan by 7 wickets in the 1st T20I. Batting first, AFG scored 168-7 in 20 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Usman Ghani gave the team a brisk start before the middle order comprising Mohammad Nabi, Hashmatulah Shahidi and Najibullah Zadran collapsed. A cameo by Ibrahim Zadran took Afghanistan to a decent total. Barry McCarthy was the most successful bowler and took 3 wickets.
Ireland got off a good start in the chase with Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie adding 61 runs. Lorcan Tucker came after the fall of first wicket and scored a half century. Later, a quickfire knock by Harry Tector helped Ireland to win the game. Afghanistan bowling comprising Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq bowled well but Ireland batters played them well.
Afghanistan vs Ireland 2nd T20I Squads:
Ireland Squad: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Lorcan Tucker(w), Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little, Fionn Hand, Stephen Doheny, Craig Young
Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afsar Zazai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Karim Janat, Hazratullah Zazai, Darwish Rasooli, Noor Ahmad