Ireland 149 for 6 (Tector 56*, Rashid 3-19, Kharote 2-16) beat Afghanistan 111 (Ishaq 32, White 4-20, Little 3-18) by 38 runs
Ireland 149 for 6 (Tector 56*, Rashid 3-19, Kharote 2-16) beat Afghanistan 111 (Ishaq 32, White 4-20, Little 3-18) by 38 runs
Rashid Khan was the focus of all the attention leading up to the opening T20I series between Afghanistan and Ireland. He was to return to play after a four-month absence due to a back injury and subsequent surgery. Rashid was immediately back in high spirits, as if no amount of agony could diminish his effect. Except that on the night, his efforts of 3 for 19 from four overs were overshadowed by those of Harry Tector, on whom a greater power depended - luck.
Dropped on 19 when Ireland were 90 for 5 in the 15th over, Tector went on to score an unbeaten 56 from 34 balls, propelling Ireland to 149. The ball also followed him across the pitch, where he collected four catches, the most by an Ireland outfield in a T20I.
Legspinner Ben White led Ireland's bowling effort, taking 4 for 20, as Afghanistan crumbled for 111. That handed them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, despite the fact that the stadium in Sharjah appeared to be empty until Rashid fell for Afghanistan's ninth wicket.
Dropped on 19 when Ireland were 90 for 5 in the 15th over, Tector went on to score an unbeaten 56 from 34 balls, propelling Ireland to 149. The ball also followed him across the pitch, where he collected four catches, the most by an Ireland outfield in a T20I.
Legspinner Ben White led Ireland's bowling effort, taking 4 for 20, as Afghanistan crumbled for 111. That handed them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, despite the fact that the stadium in Sharjah appeared to be empty until Rashid fell for Afghanistan's ninth wicket.
Tector drives Ireland's innings
Tector came in at No. 4 and hit his second ball for four, bringing Mohammad Nabi into the attack in the ninth over. But what was 54 for 1 in the eighth over quickly became 72 for 5 in the twelfth, leaving him trapped at one end. Rashid and his spin partner, newcomer Nangeyalia Kharote, swept through the middle order after both of Ireland's openers squandered starts.
But Tector remained composed and patient. He gave a taste of the excitement that was to come by crashing Kharote for his first six to begin the 14th over. When Tector decided to pursue Rashid, Fazalhaq Farooqi dropped a manageable catch to his left from a short fine leg. That sounded a warning, and Tector dispatched Rashid before unleashing the floodgates in the final three overs.
Naveen-ul-Haq suffered the most. Tector hammered a yorker and smashed another near-yorker for four before chipping a slower ball over Naveen's head to finish the 18th over on 14 runs. Naveen also bowled the final over, which went for 19 runs, with Tector clubbing the last four balls for 6, 4, 4, 4: over deep square, to deep extra cover, to deep point, and to deep third. Tector's last 11 balls produced 30 runs.
But Tector remained composed and patient. He gave a taste of the excitement that was to come by crashing Kharote for his first six to begin the 14th over. When Tector decided to pursue Rashid, Fazalhaq Farooqi dropped a manageable catch to his left from a short fine leg. That sounded a warning, and Tector dispatched Rashid before unleashing the floodgates in the final three overs.
Naveen-ul-Haq suffered the most. Tector hammered a yorker and smashed another near-yorker for four before chipping a slower ball over Naveen's head to finish the 18th over on 14 runs. Naveen also bowled the final over, which went for 19 runs, with Tector clubbing the last four balls for 6, 4, 4, 4: over deep square, to deep extra cover, to deep point, and to deep third. Tector's last 11 balls produced 30 runs.
Rashid Turns It On: A Display of Skill and Talent
Rashid missed a hat-trick when the ball spun into left-hander Neil Rock, beating him, the wicketkeeper, and first slip, but he did dismiss Gareth Delany, who struck a good 16 from No. 7 while combining 35 with Tector.
White's four-wicket haul punctures Afghanistan's hopes
White's four-wicket haul punctures Afghanistan's hopes
On Friday evening, three bowlers had a chance to complete a hat-trick. Following Rashid, Josh Little had Sediqullah Atal chipping to mid-off and Azmatullah Omarzai bowled in the second over of Afghanistan's chase. White was the third one, and he came later.
Little's early blows, together with one from Mark Adair, reduced Afghanistan to 4 for 3, at which point Mohammad Ishaq and Ibrahim Zadran staged a recovery. Ishaq had been the clear aggressor, but in the seventh over, he holed out to fine leg after sweeping a full delivery dipping to a middle-stump line. That wicket punctured Afghanistan's vehicle.
Little's early blows, together with one from Mark Adair, reduced Afghanistan to 4 for 3, at which point Mohammad Ishaq and Ibrahim Zadran staged a recovery. Ishaq had been the clear aggressor, but in the seventh over, he holed out to fine leg after sweeping a full delivery dipping to a middle-stump line. That wicket punctured Afghanistan's vehicle.
Then there was some disagreement. White dismissed Nabi with a no-ball on the fourth ball of the 13th over. However, replays showed that White's heel had landed just behind the line, prompting Stirling to speak with the umpire. But the decision stood, and Nabi had a life.
With two balls left in the over, White had rookie Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai pull a short ball to deep square leg, followed by Kharote, whom he had knocked over with his first ball by tossing one up and let it to drop before hitting off stump. White concluded with four, diverting the crowd's focus away from the guy they had come to see.
With two balls left in the over, White had rookie Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai pull a short ball to deep square leg, followed by Kharote, whom he had knocked over with his first ball by tossing one up and let it to drop before hitting off stump. White concluded with four, diverting the crowd's focus away from the guy they had come to see.
