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Shahzad and spinners help Afghanistan go 1-0 up
Half-centuries from Mohammad Shahzad and Najibullah Zadran set the base for Afghanistan's 39-run win in the second ODI against Ireland in Belfast on Tuesday.
Afghanistan, who were bowled out for 250 after being sent in to bat, overcame Ireland's solid start to the chase - openers William Porterfield and Ed Joyce added 71 - to spin the hosts out. Rashid Khan, the legspinner, finished with 3 for 28, while offspinner Mohammad Nabi claimed 3 for 45 as Ireland were bowled out for 211 in 48.2 overs. That meant Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series which started with a washout.
As many as seven Afghanistan batsmen got into double digits but most could not kick on. Shahzad, the opener, top scored with 66. The visitors, who were cruising at 76 without loss, slipped to 125 for 4, before being rescued by 70-run stand between Najibullah Zadran and Samiullah Shenwari. Zadran smashed six fours and two sixes in his 61-ball knock, before Barry McCarthy, the medium pacer, polished off the tail to finish with 4 for 59 - his best figures so far in his fledgling ODI career. Kevin O'Brien also chipped in with four wickets.
Ireland were on course as Joyce brought up a half-century. Then, medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf's two wickets in the space of four deliveries in the 27th over stalled the chase. O'Brien kept Ireland in the game with a 27-ball 35, but the escalating asking rate meant escalated pressure too, which the hosts could not withstand. O'Brien was fifth man out, before Ireland's last five wickets fell for 22.
The third ODI will also be played at the same venue on Thursday.
Highlights
Afghanistan VS Ireland 2 16 second ODI Full match Highlights (HD) - YouTube -
Joyce, Kevin O'Brien level series for Ireland
Ed Joyce's fourth ODI century and Kevin O'Brien's all-round brilliance combined to give Ireland a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the third ODI in Belfast.
Ireland's bowlers, led by O'Brien's 3 for 28 in 9.1 overs, put up a strong performance after they lost the toss and dismissed Afghanistan for 236. O'Brien then made another crucial contribution, scoring 75, and his fourth-wicket partnership of 144 with Joyce helped the hosts cruise to the target in 47.3 overs and level the five-match series 1-1. Joyce remained unbeaten on 105.
The chase wasn't smooth until the Joyce-O'Brien partnership: Ireland were reduced to 29 for 3 in the ninth over after Hamid Hassan struck twice. Ireland captain William Porterfield edged to first slip for 1 in the second over, before Sean Terry was trapped lbw for 3 by one that came back in. Asghar Stanikzai introduced spin in the ninth over and the move immediately paid off as Stuart Poynter picked out backward square leg off Mohammad Nabi's second delivery.
Ed Joyce, Kevin O'Brien level series for Ireland | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo
Afghanistan's batting is still the weak point, they need to teach the young players proper technique by hiring good coaches. All our players play like Afridi :DComment
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