brilliant return catch to end the game. Backed away, this was a yorker on middle stump and Mujeeb made the room to drill this back, but Adair was in the way and got his hands up to take a reflex catch very smartly. Ireland have wrapped this up very quickly, and won by 72 runs.
Ireland vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI at Belfast, May 19 2019 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
1st ODI, Belfast, May 19, 2019, Afghanistan tour of Ireland
Prev
NextNew
AFG
Full commentary
5.40pm: So that unravelled quickly for Afghanistan, but it was a deserving win by Ireland. This was the best bowling performance they have put up in quite a while, and they'll have a bounce in their step when the two teams meet for their next match, on Tuesday, May 21. Join us live for that one, but until then, it's goodbye from us.
Gulbandin Naib: The boys did really well in the field, but credit goes to Ireland, they bowled really well. Stirling and Porterfield batted really well, they put on a 100 partnership (99) and that's why they got a good score.
William Porterfield: Very much so (happy). We played some very good cricket in patches earlier. Here also at half-time we thought we were a bit short to be honest. We've built up a pretty good relation (him and Stirling), we know each other well. Very satisfied with our performance, and taking 10 wickets was very pleasing. You rarely run through a side, they were always going to get a partnership. I wanted Boyd (Rankin) to be as aggressive as possible.
5.35pm: Ireland looked like they had not got enough on the board. They were looking good for 240-250, but ended up with just 210. But their bowlers were magnificent, and weathered a threatening stand between Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi.
Ireland's last ODI win was also against Afghanistan, but came back in March, in Dehradun. Since then they've played five ODIs without tasting victory - four defeats and one abandonment.
5.32pm: Great win for Ireland, they've been waiting for a win for some time now. This was driven by the bowlers, starting with Tim Murtagh, then with Andy McBrine's ten overs on the trot, and down to Mark Adair's strikes and even the veteran Boyd Rankin putting a horror start behind him to strike back. Adair's 4-19 is his career best too.
35.4
W
Adair to Mujeeb, OUT
Mujeeb Ur Rahman c & b Adair 0 (2b 0x4 0x6 2m) SR: 0
35.3
•
Adair to Mujeeb, no run
full ball on the stumps, Mujeeb drives firmly from the crease to mid-on, who makes an athletic tumbling stop
35.2
W
Adair to Gulbadin, OUT
taken at long-on. Good length ball outside off, and Naib wanted to go straight down the ground, but got it off the inside half and it flew straight down long-on's throat. Ireland a wicket away now
Gulbadin Naib c sub (TE Kane) b Adair 20 (18b 2x4 0x6 38m) SR: 111.11
35.1
•
Adair to Gulbadin, no run
good length on the stumps, he gets nicely behind it and blocks it back to the bowler
nathaniel demer: "Ashmal Khot , its not easy for afgan batsmen to play fearless right away in new condition , they need bit of time to adapt. Besides ireland has improved significantly recently , perhaps irish are stronger side ."
end of over 3511 runs
AFG: 138/8CRR: 3.94 • RRR: 4.86
Aftab Alam5 (7b 1x4)
Gulbadin Naib20 (16b 2x4)
Boyd Rankin 7-1-40-3
Mark Adair 6-0-19-2
34.6
4
Rankin to Aftab Alam, FOUR runs
well that's one way of dealing with the short ball threat. Clear front leg, back away and swing hard. It was straight and on a length so he gets hold of it nicely and sends it screaming to the deep midwicket fence
34.5
•
Rankin to Aftab Alam, no run
well Alam was expecting the short one, backed away a long way, but Rankin bowled a length ball nipping into him, and he jabs it towards point
some fielding changes taking place. McCollum calling for a helmet to come in at short square leg. Gives Aftab Alam food for thought, perhaps one is going to come to his throat? Or leave him expecting that and bowl a full one? We'll see... McCollum is not standing very close in though, about 8 yards out at short leg
34.4
•
Rankin to Aftab Alam, no run
good ball, he was backing away but Rankin follows him with a yorker, which he can only dig back out to the bowler's left
34.3
1
Rankin to Gulbadin, 1 run
another outside edge, but safe again. Fullish outside off and he wanted to thump a drive, but it flies off to third man
34.2
4
Rankin to Gulbadin, FOUR runs
latched on to that well, with Rankin again erring in line. Length ball straying on the pads and he's tickled it fine for four
34.1
2
Rankin to Gulbadin, 2 runs
has a big swing at it, full ball outside off, and it flies off the outside edge. Lands safe though well over point but short of anyone on the boundary
Adzy: "100 ODI wickets up for Big Boyd Rankin! Congrats!!!"
end of over 347 runs
AFG: 127/8CRR: 3.73 • RRR: 5.25
Aftab Alam1 (4b)
Gulbadin Naib13 (13b 1x4)
Mark Adair 6-0-19-2
Boyd Rankin 6-1-29-3
33.6
•
Adair to Aftab Alam, no run
swing and a miss! Was backing away to give himself room and swung for the fences, but made connection with air
33.5
1
Adair to Gulbadin, 1 run
short on the stumps, he goes on the back foot and pulls to deep midwicket
33.4
1
Adair to Aftab Alam, 1 run
just short of mid-on good short ball, outside off, he wants to flat-bat it back past the bowler, but gets the toe-end. The ball loops up but drops just short of the fielder at mid-on
33.3
1
Adair to Gulbadin, 1 run
good length outside off again, but he goes back to allow him to slap this to cover's left, where he dives and saves runs
Ashmal Khot: "I don't understand why the Afghan top order the likes of Shahzad and Zazai are not playing fearlessly if they play their natural game and get out that is fine at least they will get a good start if they click"
33.2
•
Adair to Gulbadin, no run
good length outside off, he stays in his crease and punches to cover
33.1
4
Adair to Gulbadin, FOUR runs
back of a length, and he rocks back to pull this to deep midwicket. Went off the bottom half of the bat but it has enough legs to get to the fence
Adair is back. Maybe Porterfield should give Murtagh a chance to mop up the tail and add some wickets? He's the one who set it all up...
end of over 33Wicket maiden
AFG: 120/8CRR: 3.63 • RRR: 5.35
Aftab Alam0 (2b)
Gulbadin Naib7 (9b)
Boyd Rankin 6-1-29-3
Kevin O'Brien 3-0-21-1
32.6
•
Rankin to Aftab Alam, no run
good length outside off, the batsman was backing away again, wisely pulls out of a shot because he'd have had to reach for it
32.5
•
Rankin to Aftab Alam, no run
yorker tailing into him, he was backing away a bit, pats it to mid-on
32.4
W
Rankin to Zadran, OUT
caught by the keeper off a top edge. Dug this in short again, Dawlat was moving across once again, and tried to pull it fine, but only got a top edge. Looped straight behind for a dolly of a catch. This could all end quickly
Dawlat Zadran c †Wilson b Rankin 0 (3b 0x4 0x6 4m) SR: 0
32.3
•
Rankin to Zadran, no run
fuller and slower ball, but he waits for it and defends it back with a straight bat
32.2
•
Rankin to Zadran, no run
back of a length outside off, he's moved well across to get behind the line and defend it into the offside
Muhammad Zahir : "Our top order batting line has a disease. The ACB has to treat it systematically otherwise we will have such scenarios in many upcoming games on international level. And it's shameful. "
Match State: Drinks
32.1
W
Rankin to Rashid Khan, OUT
caught by mid-off. Rashid's cameo ends! Rankin dug it in short and outside off, the toughest length and line to try and pull, but Rashid tried to fetch it anyway, gets a top edge that goes in the air to mid-off, and Ireland are firmly on top now
Rashid Khan c Porterfield b Rankin 16 (11b 0x4 2x6 9m) SR: 145.45
Thanks Shashank
Match Coverage
Instant answers to T20 questions
Afghanistan Innings
<1 / 3>