Shenwari, Shahzad take Afghanistan 1-0 ahead
Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Shahzad starred with the bat in Afghanistan's comprehensive six-wicket victory against Ireland in the first Twenty20 International between the two sides in Greater Noida on Wednesday (March 8).
Ireland made 165 for 5 after winning the toss and opting to bat, but it barely stretched Afghanistan, which chased down the tricky target in just 18 overs, helped along the way by a bit of sloppy fielding.
Though Shahzad is known for his aggressive batting, it was Najeeb Tarakai, his opening partner, who set the tone in a 51-run opening stand with a flashy 27 off 15 balls, including three fours and two sixes, before he fell to Kevin O'Brien.
Shahzad was then joined by Shenwari and the latter simply continued where Tarakai left off, hitting three consecutive fours to get off the mark and put the pressure back on Ireland.
Shahzad, who was totally in control by then, was offered a life on 27 when he tried to hit out against George Dockrell and O'Brien, stationed at the long-on rope, failed to hold on to a catch. The two happily cashed in, adding 73 runs together before a bit of hesitation saw Shahzad run out for 47 in 41 balls, with six fours and a six.
In the process, Shahzad became the fifth highest run-getter in T20I history with 1703 runs in 56 games at 32.13 and an impressive strike rate of 135.91. Only Virat Kohli, Martin Guptill, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Brendon McCullum stand above him in the list.
The wicket did little to stifle Afghanistan though, as O'Brien bowled an expensive 16th over, conceding 27 runs, to put the home side right in the driver's seat. Shenwari was dismissed by Stuart Thompson after a 36-ball 56 that featured six fours and three sixes but, by then, a win was a mere formality. Asghar Stanikzai, the captain, hit an unbeaten 20 off 13 balls to steer the side past the target to 171 for 4.
Earlier, Ireland lost Paul Stirling for a duck to Amir Hamza off the fourth ball of the first over, but rebuilt the innings with a 82-run partnership between Thompson and William Porterfield, the captain.
The runs came thick and fast as the Afghanistan bowlers struggled with their lines and lengths. Hamza returned from bowling the opening over to slip in a quiet eighth over and had Thompson caught by Najibullah Zadran at long-on in the tenth for 56 off 35 balls, with six fours and two sixes.
Porterfield fell shortly thereafter in a bizarre passage of play for 39 off 30 balls. The batsman had nudged the ball to cover, where the fielder misfielded to allow a second run to be taken where there shouldn't have even been one. Then a direct hit at the striker's end almost allowed a third before Porterfield was caught short at the non-striker's end.
Rashid Khan, one of two Afghanistan players to be picked up at the Indian Premier League auction last month, then had O'Brien stumped for 11 to leave Ireland in trouble at 112 for 4 in the 15th over.
Gary Wilson, the wicketkeeper-batsman, pushed Ireland past the 150-mark with a breezy, unbeaten 41 off 27 balls, but it wasn't a tall enough total to challenge a vibrant Afghanistan side.
The second T20I of the three-match series is on Friday at the same venue.