Opening batsman Zazai was playing just his second international match and first since December 2016, but the 20-year-old struck six sixes in a magnificent 33-ball innings. Afghanistan lost their way after he was caught behind off Simi Singh and Mohammad Shahzad was lazily run out. Captain Asghar Afghan, who recently changed his surname from Stanikzai, managed a 30-ball 31, but his team scored just 10 runs and lost five wickets in their final three overs. Left-arm seamer Joshua Little, 18, impressed with a miserly spell of 2-20 from his four overs for Ireland. Stuart Thompson and William Porterfield both fell early in the run chase to the mystery spin of Mujeeb, before Afghanistan grabbed the crucial wicket of the dangerous Paul Stirling for 27 as Aftab Alam pulled off a sensational catch on the boundary. Middlesex opener Stirling looked to have hit Fareed Ahmad over the leg-side for six, but Aftab jumped to claim a running take one-handed, while keeping his balance to stay inside the rope.
Some lusty lower-order hitting from George Dockrell and Singh kept Ireland’s slim hopes alive, but Rashid finished with figures of 3-35 as Afghanistan wrapped up victory. “We can actually take a lot of confidence, I thought we played pretty well, particularly the way we came back with the ball,” Wilson added. “Josh Little bowled really well, and that’s why we brought him in with the left arm pace – he will be one for the next few years.”
Published in Daily Times, August 22nd 2018.
According to a YouGov study on sleep, 87 percent of Britons say they look at…
Bollywood actor Richa Chadha has said that she prepared for her role in Heeramandi by…
Actor-director Yasir Hussain slammed a local publication for fuelling speculations around the second pregnancy of…
Joginder Shah, the father of one of the two accused arrested for opening fire outside…
The latest pictures of showbiz couple Sarah Khan and Falak Shabir from their latest Dubai…
The 73rd session of Lahore Arts Council Alhamra's Board of Governors, led by Chairman Razi…
Leave a Comment