Ireland beat Afghanistan in first T20I in Sharjah

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ireland defeated Afghanistan by 38 runs in the first T20I of their three-match series in Sharjah on Friday.

Afghanistan won the toss and invited Ireland to bat first, with Ben White and Josh Little starring with the ball.

Harry Tector hit an undefeated half-century as the tourists took a 1-0 series lead against hosts Afghanistan.

Needing 150 to win, Afghanistan got off to a nightmare start when Mark Adair dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz with the very first ball of the innings.

Gurbaz's opening partner, Sediqullah Atal, soon joined him in the stands when Little had him caught off Tector for one.

The Irish left-armer then bowled Azmatullah Omarzai first ball to set up a hattrick opportunity in just the second over of the innings.

White then took over the attack and dismissed top-scorer Mohammad Ishaq for 32, Mohammad Nabi, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and Nangeyalia Kharoti to finish with figures of 4-20.

Naveen-ul-Haq scored a knock of 13 off 15 balls and Afghanistan were all out for 111 after 18.4 overs.

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