Ireland vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I at Belfast, Aug 12 2022, Afghanistan tour of Ireland

RESULT
3rd T20I, Belfast, August 12, 2022, Afghanistan tour of Ireland
(20 ov, T:190) 167/9

Afghanistan won by 22 runs

Player Of The Match
53 (35)
rahmanullah-gurbaz
Match centre 
Scores: K Vairavan | Comms: Hemant Brar
Scorecard summary
Afghanistan 189/5(20 overs)
Ireland 167/9(20 overs)
end of over 205 runs
IRE: 167/9CRR: 8.35 
George Dockrell58 (37b 6x4 2x6)
Josh Little0 (0b)
Azmatullah Omarzai 2-0-13-0
Naveen-ul-Haq 4-0-38-3

That's all from our side for this game. See you soon.

Mohammad Nabi: Our openers gave us a good start and we could put on a good total. The way we had planned in the morning, we had one or two good partnerships and finished well. We put a good total on the board and put the Ireland team under pressure. Early wickets are more important and our bowlers bowled brilliantly in the first six overs. It was a much better performance today, we performed as a team. We will try our best and hopefully will win the remaining two games as well.

Andy Balbirnie: Our batting let us down, we didn't do well in the powerplay. It was pleasing to see the fight at the back end with George taking us to the touching distance. He [Hand] seems to make things happen in the middle, be it with bat or bowl. George is very important player for us in all formats. We are 2-1 up but we really want to win the series. We will try to do that on Monday.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the Player of the Match. "It was a very important match for us after losing two games," he says. "My performance wasn't good but coach and captain asked me to spend some time in the middle. Hazratullah Zazai's comeback was really important. I feel really relaxed batting with him. We have now adjusted to the weather and pitches and will try to win the remaining two games as well."

Time for the presentation ceremony. Who is your Player of the Match?

Hamed : "Has Farooqi got injured? Why he did not complete 4 overs?" --- I am not sure, maybe Nabi wanted to see how Omarzai fares.

7.00pm A 22-run win for Afghanistan as they keep the five-match series alive. It was set up by their batters - Rahmanullah Gurbaz struck a fifty, Ibrahim Zadran played a cameo to keep the momentum going, and Najibullah Zadran ensured a strong finish. Then their bowlers reduced Ireland to 85 for 7 in the 13th over. George Dockrell (58* off 37), though, didn't give up. Along with debutant Fionn Hand (36 off 18) he took Ireland close but with 28 needed from the final over, it was too tall a task for him. Rashid Khan, however, went wicketless for the third game in a row. Before this series, he had never been wicketless on two successive T20Is. Apart from that, Afghanistan had a mixed day in the field. They took some stunning catches but also misfielded a lot.

19.6
Azmatullah to Dockrell, no run

full and wide outside off, Dockrell reaches out but fails to connect

19.6
1w
Azmatullah to Dockrell, 1 wide

too short outside off and way, way high

19.5
Azmatullah to Dockrell, no run

a length ball outside off, a slower one into the pitch. Dockrell dances down the ground and looks to smash it, but misses

19.4
Azmatullah to Dockrell, no run

a full toss around off, smashes straight towards Nabi at long-off

19.3
Azmatullah to Dockrell, no run

full and wide. Dockrell throws his bat at it but no real power behind the shot. Sweeper cover stops it

24 needed from four balls

19.2
4
Azmatullah to Dockrell, FOUR runs

full outside off, smashes it through extra cover and bisects the two men in the deep

19.1
Azmatullah to Dockrell, no run

down the track and converts this into a full toss. Hits it towards deep midwicket but refuses the single

28 needed from the final over. Surprisingly, it's Omarzai, and not Farooqi, who has got the ball

end of over 1910 runs • 2 wickets
IRE: 162/8CRR: 8.52 RRR: 28.00 • Need 28 from 6b
George Dockrell54 (31b 5x4 2x6)
Naveen-ul-Haq 4-0-38-3
Rashid Khan 4-0-38-0
18.6
1W
Naveen-ul-Haq to Hume, 1 run, OUT

short of length angling down the leg side. Hume pulls it towards fine leg and he has to turn back for the second. Cannot beat the throw from Mujeeb though. Gurbaz collects it and breaks the stumps. Hume put in a dive but even that couldn't save him

Graham Hume run out (Mujeeb Ur Rahman/†Rahmanullah Gurbaz) 1 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100

Naveen goes around the wicket

18.6
1w
Naveen-ul-Haq to Hume, 1 wide

short but down the leg side for the left-hander. Called a wide

Dockrell is having a chat with Hume while Naveen adjusts the field

18.5
1
Naveen-ul-Haq to Dockrell, 1 run

length outside off, stays back and hits it towards long-off

Hume, the other debutant, is the new batter but at the other end for now

18.4
W
Naveen-ul-Haq to Hand, OUT

full on the stumps, moves towards the off side and goes for the ramp/scoop. He gets it on the full and over short fine leg but Zazai runs back and takes it over his shoulder

Fionn Hand c Hazratullah Zazai b Naveen-ul-Haq 36 (18b 4x4 2x6) SR: 200

Vamsi: "What is missing from Ireland's set up? They seem to be very competent yet are falling short, is it just more experience against top ranked sides?" --- Possibly but this has been a great fightback

18.3
6
Naveen-ul-Haq to Hand, SIX runs

full around off, clears his front leg and smashes it over extra cover, all the way for a six

18.2
Naveen-ul-Haq to Hand, no run

Hand goes for the reverse scoop but Naveen follows him, and he fails to make contact in the end

18.1
1
Naveen-ul-Haq to Dockrell, 1 run

full around off, almost in the blockhole. Digs it out towards long-off

38 needed from 12 balls. Naveen to bowl the 19th

end of over 1813 runs
IRE: 152/7CRR: 8.44 RRR: 19.00 • Need 38 from 12b
Fionn Hand30 (15b 4x4 1x6)
George Dockrell52 (29b 5x4 2x6)
Rashid Khan 4-0-38-0
Naveen-ul-Haq 3-0-28-2
17.6
2
Rashid Khan to Hand, 2 runs

a googly and Hand swings it behind square leg for a couple. Rashid once again goes wicketless, three games in a row now. Before this series, he had never gone wicketless in two successive T20Is

Dockrell is having a chat with hand, perhaps telling him to treat this ball as a free hit

17.5
1
Rashid Khan to Dockrell, 1 run

short of length outside off, carves it behind point for one

17.4
4
Rashid Khan to Dockrell, FOUR runs

short of length on the stumps, goes back and pulls it to deep square leg for four. That's fifty for Dockrell, off 28 balls

17.3
1
Rashid Khan to Hand, 1 run

length outside off, cuts it past the diving cover fielder

17.2
1
Rashid Khan to Dockrell, 1 run

short of length on the stumps, goes back and pulls it wide of long-on but only a single

17.1
4
Rashid Khan to Dockrell, FOUR runs

full on the stumps, Dockrell creates room and smashes down the ground. Even Rashid sort of took evasive action

51 needed from three overs. Rashid to bowl his last over

Match details
Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
TossIreland, elected to field first
Series
Season2022
Player Of The Match
Series resultIreland led the 5-match series 2-1
Match numberT20I no. 1731
Match days12 August 2022 - day (20-over match)
T20I debut
Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Language
English
Win Probability
AFG 100%
AFGIRE
100%50%100%AFG InningsIRE Innings

Over 20 • IRE 167/9

Afghanistan won by 22 runs
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