Ireland vs Afghanistan Ball by Ball Commentary

George Dockrell wins it for Ireland. Shorter and on off, George Dockrell hits it over mid off for a single. Ireland wins by 7 wickets!

FOUR! Shorter and on leg, George Dockrell pulls it firmly through deep square leg for a boundary. Rashid Khan makes a diving effort at the fence but couldn't reach it. 1 needed now!

Shorter again, outside off, Harry Tector hits it to mid off for one more. 5 needed from 4 balls now!

Shorter and on off, George Dockrell fends it to short third man for one.

This is really good running! Flatter one, outside off. Harry Tector stays back and cuts it hard to deep point. There is protection in the deep but the batters do well to put pressure on the fielder and they run two.

Short ball, around middle and leg. George Dockrell pulls it along the ground to deep mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep does well to keep it down to one.

Fuller, around middle. Harry Tector hits it down to long on and crosses for a single.

George Dockrell walks in now.

OUT! CAUGHT! The game is still on for Afghanistan here! Flatter and on middle, Lorcan Tucker looks to sweep it but gets a top edge and carries towards the Fareed Ahmad at short third man who takes an easy catch.

On middle, Harry Tector flicks it to mid-wicket for one.

The physio is out on the field. Rahmanullah Gurbaz seems to be in some pain after being hit on his left shoulder. Doesn't take long for him to get back on his feet.

Slightly shorter one and a googly, Lorcan Tucker dances down the track to loft it. The ball gaps between his bat and the pads and hits the keepers shoulder. They cross. Keeper looks in a bit of trouble here.

FOUR! Nicely played! Easy picking for Harry Tector. It is a full toss, around middle. Harry Tector give himself some room and slaps it over extra cover. It races away to the boundary. Ireland need 13 off 12 now.

Quicker and full, outside off. Tucker shuffles across and pushes it gently towards covers. They take one.

Harry Tector walks out at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! Shorter and on middle, Paul Stirling pulls it but doesn't connect well. The ball goes in the air and towards square leg into the hands of Naveen-ul-Haq who makes no mistake. Paul Stirling makes his way back into the dressing room. He departs at 16.

Flatter and on middle, Lorcan Tucker drills it to point for one.

Fuller again, On middle, defended solidly.

SIX! Lorcan Tucker joins the party. Fuller and on off, Lorcan Tucker slog sweeps it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

Darts it on middle, Lorcan Tucker hits it to long on for one more. 11 off the over!

Fuller one on off, Paul Stirling guides it to point for one.

SIX! BANG! This should release some pressure. It is full and on off. Paul Stirling gets down on one knee and slogs it over the wide long on fence for a maximum.

Shorter, on middle and leg. Lorcan Tucker pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Fuller and on middle, Lorcan Tucker sweeps it to square leg for a run. He slips in between as the fielder throws towards the non-striker's end. Rashid Khan fails to grab it as the batters steal for another run. Two runs.

Flatter and outside leg following the batter, Lorcan Tucker shuffles across to play at it but misses. Dot.

Rashid Khan is into the attack now.

LEG BYE! It is tossed up, full and on leg. Lorcan Tucker goes for the sweep but misses. It rolls to the leg side off his pads. They collect a leg bye. Ireland need 36 runs off 24 balls now.

It is fuller, on middle and leg. Paul Stirling flicks it to square leg for a single.

Lorcan Tucker is off the mark. Touch short, outside off. Tucker shuffles across and cuts it to backward point. The fielder there fumbles and the batters rotate the strike.

Lorcan Tucker is the new man in.

OUT! LBW! A quicker one on the stumps, Andy Balbirnie shuffles across for a slog sweep but misses as the ball hits his pads. A loud appeal and the finger goes up! Andy Balbirnie departs for 9 as Afghanistan have a breakthrough.

On a length and on off, Andy Balbirnie lofts it to long off. They get a couple of runs.

Flatter and outside off, Paul Stirling looks to slog sweep it but gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls towards short third man. They cross.

Change. Mujeeb Ur Rahman comes into the attack now. Ireland now need 42 runs off 30 balls.

SIX! Andy Balbirnie finally gets it right. Fuller and outside off, Andy Balbirnie reaches out, gets under it and launches it over long off for a maximum.

Outside off and on a good length, Andy Balbirnie looks to drive it but misses again. Four dots in a row!

Play and a miss again! On a length and outside off, Andy Balbirnie looks to play at it but misses again. Good bowling.

On a length and outside off, Andy Balbirnie looks to drive it but misses. This was close!

Full length, on off. Andy Balbirnie eases it to mid off. He is struggling to get going here.

Length ball, outside off. Paul Stirling stays back and punches it to sweeper cover. He takes one. Paul Stirling crosses the 3000-run mark in T20Is. He is up there with some of the best players in cricket. An exceptional milestone for the Irish opener.

Fareed Ahmad to steam in from the other end.

Fuller again, Paul Stirling flicks it to square leg for one.

IN THE AIR...SAFE! Fuller one and on off, Andy Balbirnie moves to his off side and flicks it. The ball goes in the air and towards square leg towards the fielder who makes a diving effort to his right. They cross. Andy Balbirnie gets a lucky escape.

Fuller and on off, Andy Balbirnie pushes it towards the bowler who makes a diving stop to his left. Dot!

Naveen-ul-Haq bowls it on a length and on off, Paul Stirling punches it to covers for one.

Touch fuller this time, Paul Stirling looks to defend it but misses.

FOUR! A perfect start for Ireland. Slightly shorter and outside off, Paul Stirling slaps it past point for a boundary!

Shorter and on off, Azmatullah Omarzai pulls it. The ball goes in the air and lands safely at square leg. They collect two.

Fuller and just outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai looks to block it but misses.

On a length and on middle, Usman Ghani works it to mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Slightly shorter and outside off, Usman Ghani slaps it past backward point for a boundary.

On a length and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai knocks it to long on for one.

Touch fuller and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai defends it solidly.

Change. Curtis Campher (3-0-13-0) is back on now.

Flatter and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai drives it to covers for one again.

Loopy and on middle, Usman Ghani guides it to cover point. They cross.

Fuller and on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai eases it to covers for one again.

On a length and on middle, Usman Ghani pushes it to covers for one.

Fuller and on middle, Usman Ghani flicks it to mid-wicket. The ball goes in the air and falls in no man's land. They collect two.

Slightly shorter and on the stumps, Azmatullah Omarzai tucks it to mid-wicket for one.

Change. Gareth Delany (1-0-3-0) is back into the attack now. There is also a little bit of drizzle coming down now.

Outside off and on a good length, slightly slower in pace, Usman Ghani looks to drive it but misses.

On middle and much fuller, Azmatullah Omarzai eases it to mid-wicket. They cross.

FOUR! Touch fuller this time, Azmatullah Omarzai creams it past covers for a boundary. Afghanistan need more of these!

Wide! Shorter and on leg, Azmatullah Omarzai leaves it alone. Wide called.

Good-length delivery again, Usman Ghani dabs it to covers. They cross.

Barry McCarthy bowls it on a good length, Azmatullah Omarzai flicks it to square leg for one.

On a length and outside off, Usman Ghani taps it to point for one.

Shorter and on middle, Usman Ghani pulls it to square leg for one.

On a length and on off, Azmatullah Omarzai drives it to deep point. The fielder makes a good stop diving to his right and saves a boundary. They collect three runs.

Three dots in a row. Touch fuller and outside off, left alone.

On a length and outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai leaves it alone.

Shorter and outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai gets in two minds but leaves it alone in the end.

On a length and on leg, Usman Ghani works it to mid-wicket for one.

Azmatullah Omarzai walks in.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! The decision of getting Josh Little back into the attack has done wonders for Ireland here. It is a quicker short ball, on the bodyline. Mohammad Nabi gets inside the line and looks to pull it away. It lobs off his gloves in front of the keeper. Lorcan Tucker realises that it won't carry and charges towards the ball. He dives forward with his right-hand stretched out and the ball sticks in his gloves. This is a brilliant catch from Lorcan Tucker. Ireland have their noses in front here.

Mohammad Nabi walks out at number 6.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Shorter and on leg, Najibullah Zadran looks to pull it but the ball just brushes his glove and goes into the mitts of Tucker who makes no mistake. The partnership that was looking a bit threatening has been broken here. Can Ireland build on this wicket?

Shorter and on off, Usman Ghani pulls it to mid-wicket for one.

Oh, that was close! Slightly shorter and on off, Usman Ghani miscues his pull shot. The ball goes just over the diving fielder at mid-wicket. They collect two.

Shorter one this time, outside off, Usman Ghani pulls it but finds the fielder at mid-wicket.

On a length and down the leg side, Najibullah Zadran gently flicks it to square leg for one.

Drinks! Ireland have started well with the ball here. They would hope that the last over from Simi Singh does not affect their progress here. They are right on top at the moment and would be looking to break this stand as soon as possible. Afghanistan though need their batters to focus on stitching big stands which can get them back in the game. An enticing passage of play awaits. Josh Little comes back into the attack now for Ireland to find some inspiration.

FOUR! The boundaries are coming in thick and fast in this over. It is full, wide outside off. Ghani gets down on one knee and slaps it through covers. It races away. 20 runs off the over then. Could this be the turn around for Afghanistan?

SIX! All the way! This over is turning out to an expensive one. It is full, on off. Ghani gets low and slogs it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum.

Quicker and full, wide outside off. Ghani leaves it alone but it is inside the tramline.

Simi Singh now comes 'round the wicket. It is full, outside off, Ghani looks to chase it but misses.

FOUR! Usman Ghani stepping on the gas here. It is full, wide outside off. Usman Ghani bends his knee and crunches it through covers for four.

SIX! Just enough power to clear the man in the deep. It is tossed up, full and on off. Ghani comes down the track and lofts it towards long off. Mark Adair is there in the deep but it clears his effort.

Simi Singh comes into the attack.

Full length, outside off. Ghani slashes it to sweeper cover for a single. This won't hurt Ireland at all. They will certainly be happy to give away singles here. Only three off the over.

A full-length ball, angled into the pads. Ghani comes down the track and heaves but fails to get any bat on ball.

On a length, on off. Ghani defends it out watchfully.

Good length, outside off. Zadran punches it through covers for one more.

A length ball, on off. Ghani works it to square leg off the inside edge. They take a single.

Campher dishes it full, outside off. Ghani leans in and drives it to covers. Not in the gap though.

Curtis Campher comes into the attack now.

On off, blocked out. A really good first over for Gareth Delany. Just three runs off it.

Touch short, on off. Ghani pulls it through square leg for one more.

Full and outside off. Zadran slashes it through point for a single.

Tossed up, outside off. Zadran looks to go for the reverse sweep but misses it completely.

EDGED BUT SHORT! It is full, outside off. Najibullah Zadran looks to drive it away. It takes the outside edge and goes towards short third man. It does not carry though.

Floated and full, on the stumps. Usman Ghani pushes it down to mid off and rotates the strike.

Gareth Delany comes into the attack.

A length ball, on off. Usman Ghani stays back and drives it through covers. They take one.

WIDE! This is too high! Barry McCarthy bends his back hard and serves a bumper, on middle. Ghani ducks under it and the umpire signals a wide.

Back-of-a-length ball, outside off. Usman Ghani looks to cut it away but gets beaten on the outside edge. Four dots in the over so far.

A full-length ball, drifting down leg. Usman Ghani misses his flick. It goes to the left of the keeper off his pads.

Fraction short, outside off. Zadran hangs back and cuts it to deep point. One taken as there is protection in the deep.

Good length, on off. Zadran blocks it back to the bowler.

A length ball, around off. Najibullah Zadran stays back and tries to flick it away. He is a bit early into his shot. The ball goes to the off side off the leading edge. It does not carry though.

Touch fuller and outside off, Usman Ghani drives it but finds the fielder at covers. A dot to end the over.

Shorter and on off, Usman Ghani ducks under it.

Fuller and on middle, Usman Ghani hits it straight back towards the bowler.

On a length and outside off, Usman Ghani looks to drive it but misses.

A single now as this is pushed to covers.

Overthrows! Bouns runs for Afghanistan this time. It is full, on off. Najibullah Zadran pushes it to mid off. The fielder there has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. There is no backing up and the ball races away to the fence.

Curtis Campher comes into the attack.

Shorter and on off, blocked out.

Barry McCarthy bowls it touch fuller and down the middle, Usman Ghani fends it to covers. Dot.

Keeps it bowling on a good length, Najibullah Zadran gently flicks it to square leg for one.

On a length and outside off, Najibullah Zadran looks to play at it but misses.

Fuller and on off, Najibullah Zadran drives it but finds the fielder at covers.

On a length and on leg, Usman Ghani flicks it to square leg for one.

Change. Barry McCarthy comes into the attack now.

A length ball, outside off. Najibullah Zadran taps it into covers. Yet another successful over from Mark Adair comes to an end. He has taken three wickets in his two over so far.

Najibullah Zadran is the new man in.

OUT!CAUGHT! That is a brilliant catch from Barry McCarthy. Shorter and outside off, Ibrahim Zadran hangs back and is caught in two minds. He decides to pull out of his shot but it a bit late. It takes the toe-end of his bat and flies towards short third man. Barry McCarthy moves to his left, leaps and takes a sensational catch with both hands above his head. Afghanistan is a spot of bother here.

On a length and on off, Usman Ghani guides it to point for one.

On off, blocked out.

Touch fuller and on off, Ibrahim Zadran caresses it to point for one.

FOUR! On a length and outside off, Ibrahim Zadran cuts it through backward point for a boundary. Beautiful timing!

Josh Little bowls it on a length and on off, Ibrahim Zadran eases it to covers for one. Another tidy over from Little comes to an end.

Slightly shorter again, Ibrahim Zadran looks to block it but the ball hits the upper part of his bat and bounces on the surface. No runs.

Wide! Slightly shorter and wide outside off, Ibrahim Zadran leaves it alone. Wide called.

Slightly shorter and outside off this time, Ibrahim Zadran miscues his punch to point. Dot.

Touch fuller and on off, Usman Ghani cuts it to backward point for one.

Slightly shorter one outside off, Usman Ghani shoulders arms to it.

Shorter one on leg, Ibrahim Zadran pulls it to square leg for one.

Usman Ghani is the new batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A beauty from Mark Adair! He strikes twice in his first over. Slightly shorter and outside off shaping it away, Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks to defend it but only manages to get a slight outside edge. The keeper, Lorcan Tucker takes a comfortable catch behind the sticks. The Afghanistan openers are back in the hut in a jiffy. A bright start for Ireland.

Risky single here! Ibrahim Zadran could've been a goner. Full length, on off. Ibrahim Zadran drives it to extra cover and scampers across for a quick single. The fielder there gathers the ball and scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end. The Ireland think they have got their man here, although the umpire thinks otherwise.

Fraction short, on top of off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz stays inside the crease, hops and fends it out to covers. They take one.

Ibrahim Zadran is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ireland have an early breakthrough in the game. Fuller again, outside off, Hazratullah Zazai looks to loft it but mistimes it completely. The ball goes in the air and towards Simi Singh at mid off who takes a brilliant catch running to his right. Hazratullah Zazai makes his way back into the dressing room.

FOUR! Beautiful shot. Fuller again, outside off, Hazratullah Zazai drives it through point for another boundary.

FOUR! Finds th gap really well here. Fuller and on off, Hazratullah Zazai steers it in the gap past point for a fine boundary.

Mark Adair to share the new ball.

Similar to the last delivery. This one lands outside off as well, Rahmanullah Gurbaz looks to play at it but misses and gets beaten on the outside edge. A good end to the over by Little.

Pitched up and away from the batter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz leaves it alone.

On a length and on leg, Hazratullah Zazai heaves it to deep square leg for one.

Touch fuller and on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz drives it through covers. The fielder chases it and just saves it before the fence. They collect three runs.

Slightly shorter again, Hazratullah Zazai flicks it to deep square leg for one.

WIDE! This one lands outside leg, Hazratullah Zazai leaves it alone. Wided.

Little starts with a slightly shorter length on leg, Hazratullah Zazai gently flicks it to backward square leg but straight to the fielder. A yard either side of the fielder and it could've run down to the fence.

The clash is set to begin. Ireland players are seen to be in a huddle before they take their respective fielding positions. They are followed by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai who walk to open for Afghanistan. It will be Josh Little to start with the new ball. Here we go...

Mohammad Nabi, the captain of Afghanistan is in for a chat. He says that the pitch looks good and hard. Mentions they would've wanted to bat first anyways. Adds they will try to put a good total on the board here. Says the boys did really well to bounce back. Says they will try their best to win this game as well. Furthers adds that there is a single change to their side with Usman Ghani coming in for Sharafuddin Ashraf.

Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland is in for a chat. He says that they will bowl first on the fresh wicket and make good use of the conditions. Mentions that they started the series good but it is 2-2 now. Further says that they can create chances and make use of those chances. Mentions that they have one change in the team with Fionn Hand making way for Curtis Campher.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Usman Ghani (In for Sharafuddin Ashraf), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad.

Ireland (Playing XI) - Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (C), Lorcan Tucker (WK), Harry Tector, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher (In for Fionn Hand), Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little.

TOSS - The coin goes up and lands in favour of Ireland. They have opted to BOWL first.

Afghanistan were clinical in the last T20I game with bat and the ball. They will hope to replicate their performance in this one and win the series. Which side will bag the series? We shall find out soon. Toss and team news in a bit.