| Afghanistan 111 (18.4 overs): Ishaq 32, Nabi 25; White 4-20, Little 3-18, McCarthy 2-14 |
| Eire 149-6- (20 overs): Tector 56*, Stirling 25, Balbirnie 22; Rashid 3-19, Kharote 2-16 |
| Eire win by 38 runs |
| Full scorecard |
Harry Tector hit an excellent 56 and Ben White claimed 4 wickets as Eire defeated Afghanistan by 38 runs within the first of three Twenty20 matches.
Tector’s fifth T20 half-century helped Eire to 149-6 within the United Arab Emirates.
White took 4 wickets and Josh Little a hat-trick as Afghanistan fell 38 runs brief.
“It was a unbelievable efficiency, an actual group efficiency,” mentioned Eire captain Paul Stirling.
After shedding the one-day worldwide collection 2-0, Stirling added: “It is no imply feat beating Afghanistan. I do know it is not essentially their dwelling soil, however they play an enormous quantity of cricket right here.
“We have to place this behind us once more and see if we will win a collection as a result of it’ll most likely solely get more durable, and we’ll count on Afghanistan to maintain enhancing as effectively.”
Eire took to the crease first in Sharjah as Andrew Balbirnie and Stirling constructed up a gap partnership.
Balbirnie was first to be dismissed when he was caught by Rahmanullah Gurbaz on 22, and Lorcan Tucker was subsequent to fall on 4 within the seventh over.
Returning captain Rashid Khan inflicted a quick-fire double when Stirling was caught by Ibrahim Zadran, and the spinner bowled Curtis Campher first ball.
Nonetheless, Tector’s stand was essential and that allowed Eire to finish their 20 overs at 149-6.
Eire landed an early blow when Mark Adair eliminated Gurbaz with the very first ball of the innings and Little struck twice within the second over to take away Sediqullah Atal after which Azmatullah Omarzai, to go away Afghanistan struggling at 4-3.
Wickets for White and Barry McCarthy restricted Afghanistan to 50-5 inside 9 overs, earlier than the previous dismissed Ijaz Ahmadzai and Kharote with back-to-back balls after which removed Mohammad Nabi.
Little returned to assert his hat-trick when he bought the higher of the talismanic Rashid, who was making his return from a again harm. That wicket put Eire in management and McCarthy struck the ultimate blow to go away Afghanistan all out for 111 with eight balls to spare.
The second T20 takes place on the similar venue on Sunday earlier than Monday’s third and last match.