ZCZC
BSP-10
CRICKET-AFG-IRE
Afghanistan seals T20 series win against Ireland
GREATER NOIDA, India, March 8, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Teenage spinner Mujeeb Ur
Rahman took three wickets to help Afghanistan beat Ireland by 21 runs and
claim an unassailable 2-0 series lead in the second Twenty20 international in
India on Sunday.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat, but started sluggishly before
skipper Asghar Afghan’s 49 off 28 balls lifted the team to 184 for 4 from 20
overs.
Mujeeb struck early in Ireland’s innings to claim the wickets of openers
Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien, and finished with 3-38 to earn the man of
the match.
Captain Andrew Balbirnie (46) and Harry Tector (37) mounted a recovery but
it was not enough, with Ireland finishing on 163-6.
“Happy to win the series. We focused on some strike rotation before going
for quick runs,” Afghan told Cricinfo after the match.
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie said his team needed to build on its
strong starts.
“We started pretty well but you have to be good for the whole 20 overs…
The series is now gone but it’s a big year and we need to focus on the third
game,” Balbirnie added.
Afghanistan beat Ireland in the first match on Friday in a rain-affected
fixture in India.
The two teams play the third and final game, also in northern India, on
Tuesday.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1915HRS