Stanikzai, Rashid put Afghanistan 2-0 ahead

So much has been spoken about Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad and Rashid Khan with respect to Afghanistan’s recent success that Asghar Stanikzai has almost flown under the radar. The skipper’s maiden century and Rashid’s career-best figures of 6 for 43 helped Afghanistan beat Ireland by 34 runs in the second One-Day International at the Greater Noida Sports Complex on Friday (March 17), and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Stanikzai’s 90-ball 101 took Afghanistan to 338 before it was bowled out off the last ball of the 50th over. Ireland then started strongly, keen to make St Patrick’s Day memorable like it had done famously in 2007 with a win over Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup. But the introduction of Rashid in the 23rdover changed the course of the game. Rashid took his tally of wickets against Ireland in the last five games - including three Twenty20 Internationals - to 19 as Ireland was bowled out for 304 in 47.3 overs.

Opting to bat first on a placid pitch, Afghanistan got off to a flying start through an opening stand of 90 between Shahzad and Noor Ali Zadran. Shahzad, as is his wont, hit 12 fours all around the ground to entertain the handful of spectators who had turned up to watch the contest.

After George Dockrell got Shahzad lbw with an arm ball and Noor Ali was run out, Rahmat Shah (68) and Stanikzai added 96 runs in quick time. Stanikzai focussed on playing along the ground before shifting gears in the 39th over when he hit Tim Murtagh for a four and two sixes to go past his half-century.

Even as Stanikzai anchored the innings, the rest of the batsmen went about playing their strokes freely. Afghanistan hit as many as 32 fours and 11 sixes while posting its highest-ever total in the format, bettering the 302 for 5 it had made against United Arab Emirates in May 2014.

Afghanistan could have got even more but it lost three wickets in the final over as Paul Stirling finished with figures of 6 for 55, becoming the first Ireland bowler to take six wickets in an innings.

Stirling carried the confidence into the second innings to make 95 (80 balls) and put on an opening stand of 113 runs with Ed Joyce (55). His second-wicket stand of 60 runs with William Porterfield was looking promising when Rashid made the first breakthrough, Stirling adjudged lbw off a googly.

Rashid used his googly to good effect throughout the innings to keep a check on Ireland. His second decisive blow came in the 43rd over when he bowled Gary Wilson after the No.6 batsman had added 50 runs for the sixth wicket with Stuart Thompson.

Dawlat Zadran was equally effective, picking up 3 for 52. Rashid picked up the final scalp to be the first Afghanistan bowler to take six wickets in a match.

Rashid is now three short of becoming the fourth Afghanistan bowler to take 50 ODI wickets, a record that could be within reach when the teams meet for the third ODI on March 19.