Afghanistan v Ireland, 3rd T20I, Greater Noida - Preview
Afghanistan will look to complete a sweep when it takes on Ireland in the third and final Twenty20 International in Greater Noida on Sunday (March 12).
The European side has been comfortably outplayed by its Asian counterpart in both games and will require improvements across departments to earn a consolation win against a team that is fast becoming one of the best limited-overs side in the associate circle.
Afghanistan’s consistency and dominance is evident from its winning streak of ten T20Is, the most by any team in international cricket.
In the second game, Afghanistan rode on Najeeb Tarakai's 58-ball 90, including seven fours and five sixes, to post an imposing 184 for 8 in 20 overs. It proved too much for Ireland, who fell 17 runs short on Duckworth-Lewis method in the chase.
Ireland managed to contain the likes of Mohammad Shahzad and Samiullah Shenwari. But despite reducing Afghanistan to 69 for 4, its spinners were unable to maintain the pressure. George Dockrell and Jacob Mulder were expensive, conceding 36 and 35 runs in their four overs respectively. Both spinners had similar figures in the first match as well.
Barry McCarthy's spell of 4 for 33 was a major positive for Ireland, but it will want its spinners to come to the party if they are win the third match.
In stark contrast, Afghanistan's spinners have been outstanding and it will hope to keep up the good show in the series finale. Rashid Khan, the legspinner who shared the Man of the Match award with Tarakai, rattled the opposition taking 5 for 3 in two overs sparkling a collapse.
Chasing 185, Ireland got off to an outstanding start. Paul Stirling smashed four sixes and a boundary, scoring 34 from 15 balls. At 65 for 2 in 6.1 overs, Ireland was 12 runs ahead on the DLS method when rain halted play.
When play resumed, Ireland was required to chase 111 in 11 overs, bringing the equation to 46 runs needed from 29 balls. Rashid's spell rendered the chase impossible, as Ireland stuttered to 93 for 9, falling short of the revised target.
Ireland's middle order was a letdown as was the lower order. None of the batsmen from No. 4 to No. 11 managed to get into double figures. The onus is on the likes of Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien to effect improvements in that critical area. Wilson did that to good effect in the first game, smashing an unbeaten 27-ball 41 although it went in vain.
Given its all-round prowess in the limited-overs formats, Afghanistan will fancy a clean sweep. Ireland will have to make a consolidated effort if it is to stop the Afghan juggernaut.
Teams (from)
Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Fareed Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Najeeb Tarakai, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen-ul-Haq, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari
Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), George Dockrell, Josh Little, Jacob Mulder, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Greg Thompson, Stuart Thompson, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson (wk), Craig Young.