Watch AFG vs IRE 1st T20I highlights: Rashid Khan’s 3-19 on his comeback from a back injury went in vain as Harry Tector’s unbeaten fifty and Ben White’s four-for powered Ireland to 38-run victory at Sharjah on March 15.
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Rashid, playing his first match after four months due to a back injury which required surgery, was in his element straightaway. He picked up three wickets and threatened to skittle Ireland out for a low total. However, Tector came to rescue the Ireland innings.
Dropped on 19 when Ireland were 90 for 5 in the 15th over, Tector led the tourists’ batting effort with an unbeaten 34-ball 56 and propelled them to a respectable 149.
Naveen-ul-Haq was at the receiving end of Tector’s aggression. He drove a yorker from Naveen and slashed another attempted yorker for four before chipping a slower ball down the ground to cap off the 18th over with 14 runs. Naveen also bowled a last over and leaked 19 with Tector clobbering the last four balls for 6, 4, 4, 4. Tector’s last 11 balls produced 30 runs.
Later, Tector had a brilliant outing on the field as well, taking four catches – the most by an Ireland fielder in a T20I.
While defending the total, Mark Adair struck with the very fast ball of the innings, sending Rahmanullah Gurbaz packing for a duck. Then Josh Little dismissed Sediqullah Atal (1) and Azmatullah Omarzai (0) off consecutive balls to reduce Afghanistan to 4-3 in the second over. Mohammad Ishaq and Ibrahim Zadran staged a recovery but the partnership ended when Ishaq holed out to fine leg for 32 off 22 while trying to sweep a full delivery off Ben White. Thereafter, White ran through Afghanistan’s batting order with his wrist-spin and claimed 4-20 to bowl them out for 111.
