taken at deep backward point! A full toss angling away and finishing around sixth stump, as he opened the face of the bat and sliced it away
Afghanistan vs Ireland, 2nd T20I at Sharjah, AFG v IRE, Mar 17 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary
That's it from us, as Afghanistan levelled the three-match series against Ireland. Nabi and Rashid led the way, with the decider taking place tomorrow evening. Until then, it is goodnight and goodbye from Vairavan, Harshith, and me, Himanshu!
Azweer: "Hope the fans saved some nails for the series decider" --- And I saved my fingers and some energy for it...
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's captain, is the Player of the Match. He said there were brief nervous moments, but there are players who can take it away, referring to Nabi's fifty from 14 for 4.
Paul Stirling, Ireland captain: "Great game. They all seem to be close. I am actually happy how we performed. We have another chance tomorrow. They bowled well up top. But the partnership brought them back in the game."
Time for the presentations
Mohammad Nabi: "There was a bit of pressure for the first few overs. But when I realised that the wicket is good for batting, I told my partner Sadiq that let us play it ball by ball. The ball was gripping, and if you bowled a variation, it was difficult. It was a match-changing wicket [of Stirling]. We'll try our best to play good cricket, and hopefully win [the series]."
11.31pm Afghanistan make it 1-1 despite Ireland starting the chase in command, and despite being 14 for 4 with the bat. And once again, it was their spinners who applied the brakes. Rashid took four after grabbing three in the first T20I, after Nabi bashed 59 in a counterattack with the bat. The Player-of-the-Match remains for one of these two. So hang around for the presentations.
short of a length, and angling across towards off. Pulled to long-on, and they don't get a boundary
Over the wicket
he keeps Ireland alive! A low full toss angling into off, and he almost flat-bats it over long-on for six
another yorker, and this is wide of off, as he gets it off the bottom of the bat to long-on. They don't run, though
gets across and comes down the pitch. He converts this into a low full toss and pushes to extra cover
ahh, well bowled! Fires a yorker on sixth stump, which McCarthy cannot get a bat on as he jams it down
Ireland need 18 off 6
drilled to deep backward point! He backs away, and crushes this fullish ball on sixth stump all along the ground to beat deep point to his left
clubbed over the bowler's head! Another one at a change of pace from Naveen, but this is on a length on fifth stump, as Delany has a mow
change of pace, and quite full just outside off. Pushed to point
just short deep point, which is the longer side of the boundary. Slower ball and short of a length outside off, as Delany hacked to go high
bouncer outside off, and a tennis-batted swat to deep midwicket
ahh, bottom edge hits the base of off stump! He made a bit of room and drove at this full ball on fifth stump, but the bails don't come off
Hefaz: "@Azweer, Clearly Nabi!"
full toss, and over point! Delany takes Farooqi for a ride. Angled in and finishing around off, as he played late to push it to deep backward point
that goes miles up in the air! Another slower ball, but this is in the arc, and on the stumps, as Delany has a golf swing to go over long-on
slower ball again, and now he bowls on a short of a length on sixth stump. The ball turns away as Delany looks to pull but misses
Azweer : "Tug-of-war for POTM between Nabi and Rashid."
change of pace, and on a fullish length just outside off. Dabbed towards point
smashed down the ground! He stands deep in the crease, and gets his front leg out of the way to launch at this length ball angling in to finish around sixth stump
clears deep square leg! That went very high before landing beyond the boundary, as he pulled this length delivery angled into off, and got the distance
Farooqi back from around the wicket
slower ball, and full on off. Dragged to long-on
short of a length, and a bit wide of off, as he looked to ramp but missed
Over 20 • IRE 142/8