Ireland ended a run of eight successive Twenty20 international defeats after beating Afghanistan with just one ball remaining  in a seven-wicket win in Belfast on Tuesday.

Advertisement

George Dockrell struck the match-clinching boundary off the penultimate ball as Ireland, chasing 169, finished on 171-3.

Advertisement

The result was Ireland's first win in any form of international cricket this season, with the side also having suffered three one-day defeats.

Ireland openers Paul Stirling (31 off 29 balls) and captain Andrew Balbirnie (51 off 38) got the hosts' chase off to a good start with a stand of 61 in 7.3 overs at Stormont.

Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker maintained the momentum with 50 off 32 balls before Harry Tector (25 not out) and Dockrell (10 not out) gave Ireland a much-needed success.

Earlier, spinner Dockrell took 2-7 and paceman Barry McCarthy 3-34, with opener Usman Ghani top-scoring with 59, including six fours and two sixes for Afghanistan.

Advertisement

The tourists' total of 168-7 was bolstered by 30 runs off the final two overs, with Ibrahim Zadran hitting an unbeaten 29 off 18 balls.

Also Read: Scorecard

The teams will return to Stormont on Thursday for the second of a five-match series.

Advertisement

About the Author

IANS News
IANS is one of the largest independent private Indian news agency in India. Founded in the year 1986 by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the "India Abroad News Service" and later renamed. Their main offices are located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Read More
Latest Cricket News