4th T20I, Stormont, August 15, 2022, 08:00 PM
Afghanistan
132/6(11.0ov)
Ireland
105/10(11.0ov)
Afghanistan beat Ireland by 27 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Rashid Khan
Commentry
That's it then from this rain-truncated game. The series so far has lived up to its billing and it is basically a one-game shootout to decide the winner. The final game will be played on Wednesday, 17th August and the match will begin at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT). The build-up for that game will begin much sooner, so do join us then. Cheers!
Mohammad Nabi, the Afghan skipper, says that he is thankful to the Almighty that they have stayed alive in the series. Feels that it's important to pick early wickets and put pressure on the batting team. Praises Najibullah Zadran for his knock and says that he has been in great form of late. On Rashid Khan, Nabi replies that he is a good batter to have at the death as he has got the power. Mentions that they are improving with every game on the field and are looking forward to the decider. Hopes to do the best and keep it simple and execute the plans.
Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland, says that the way Rashid Khan and Najibullah Zadran batted at the backend was incredible and it was very hard to bowl at them. Feels that it's never easy in an 11-over contest. He is frustrated with himself for not carrying on after getting a start. Calls it a disappointing day altogether. Andy Balbirnie adds that he is looking forward to the next game and is expecting Afghanistan to come out all guns blazing as they have the momentum.
Rashid Khan (31* off 10 balls and 2 for 21) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant showing with both bat and ball. The leggie says that it was a pretty hard couple of games for him as he didn't play much cricket in the last one month or so. He is pleased with his knock as the team needed those runs. Shares that he and Najibullah Zadran tried to stay calm and finish well. Tells that 120-plus was the target in their mind and praises Najibullah Zadran for his knock. He is happy to pick up wickets at last and hopes to continue with his bowling form. Shows a great gesture as he dedicates his award to Fareed Ahmad.
The Presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Andy Balbirnie opted to field first due to the overhead conditions but in a shortened game, the plan backfired. Ireland did keep Afghanistan's scoring rate under control for the majority of the innings but Najibullah Zadran and then Rashid Khan went into sixth gear towards the end and just smashed the ball to all parts of the ground. For Ireland, the young leg spinner Gareth Delany starred once again with the ball with his three wickets but every bowler did go for 10 runs or more per over. Ireland had a stiff target to chase down and they just couldn't build up any partnerships as they kept on losing wickets frequently which made a big difference. Afghanistan were clinical on the field and played the big moments well to go on and win the game.
Afghanistan must have been pleased at the break with their exploits with the bat and then they backed it up in the field as well to set up an easy victory. Fareed Ahmad, the man who came in as a replacement for the injured Fazalhaq Farooqi, was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up three wickets, hardly giving away runs as well. Rashid was brilliant as usual and all in all, it was a comprehensive bowling display. There were a couple of bowlers who went the distance but now Afghanistan have all the momentum on their side and will be looking to complete a memorable comeback in the final game.
Ireland were on the back foot at the interval as they had to score around 12 runs per over from the get-go. They did start briskly though with skipper Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling both firing. Once the skipper fell though, the wickets kept on tumbling and apart from the openers, none of the premier batters even put up much of a fight. It was then George Dockrell down the order who put up a fight but no one really stayed with him and in the end, Dockrell just had too much to do on his own. Ireland got bundled out on the final delivery and will now have to bounce back quickly if they are to win the series.
Well, no one saw this coming! Afghanistan have fought back brilliantly and have gone from being 2-0 down in the series to levelling it at 2-2 and they have managed to do so with a fairly convincing win here. They were brilliant from start to finish and the Irish have fallen short of the mark here.
In over# 11
0W
0
0
0
4
0
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 13/0(2)
10.6
W
OUT! Another run out, another diamond duck and that's all for Ireland. Afghanistan win by 27 runs to level the series 2-2 and have forced a decider. Quicker one, full and around middle, Dockrell hits it firmly towards mid on and sets off for a run. Meanwhile, Mohammad Nabi has released the throw and Little is slow to reach the crease and is run out at the striker's end.
10.5
.
Full again, around off, Dockrell forces it straight to covers.
10.4
.
Full and around off, Dockrell fails to sweep and is hit on the pads. A stifled appeal from the bowler but nothing doing.
10.3
.
Mujeeb keeps it flat and short, around off, Dockrell makes room to whack it through the line but only manages a bottom edge.
10.2
4
FOUR! Quicker and flatter, around middle and leg, George heaves it across the line and sends it screaming away to the deep square leg fence.
10.1
.
Flatter and quicker, around leg, Dockrell moves back and tries to slog but misses. It goes off his pads to short fine leg.
The on-field scorers are facing some technical difficulties. The issue has been resolved and we are ready to continue.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been trusted to bowl the last over.
In over# 10
1
6
0
0
1W
2
Azmatullah Omarzai 25/1(2)
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