KABUL (Pajhwok): Ireland have defeated Afghanistan in their first home T20 International of the season by seven wickets in Belfast.
The visitors selected to bat first after winning the toss. Opting to bat first in Tuesday’s match, Afghanistan set Ireland a target of 169 runs, losing seven wickets.
For the visitors, Usman Ghani smashed 59 runs and Ibrahim Zadran chipped in with 29. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran contributed 26 and 15 runs respectively.
The hosts chased down the target, with seven wickets in hand. Fifties from Balbirnie and Tucker set up the chase, before Dockrell and Tector added the finishing touches
George Dockrell hit the winning boundary off the penultimate ball to lift Ireland to 171-3 after they were set a target of 169.
But Ireland openers Paul Stirling (31 off 29 balls) and skipper Andrew Balbirnie (51 off 38) set their side on their way, putting on 61 off 7.3 overs for the first wicket.
Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker kept Ireland on course with 50 off 32 deliveries and it was left to Harry Tector and Dockrell (10 not out) to carry them home.
Earlier, Dockrell took 2-7 and Barry McCarthy 3-34 while the Afghans’ top-scorer, opener Usman Ghani, struck two sixes and six fours in his 59 off 42 balls.
The two sides will meet again on Thursday at the same Civil Services Cricket Club venue in Stormont for the second time in their five-match series.
sa/mud
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