taken at deep backward point! Naveen looked to slice it stylishly with a full swing of the arms, but fell this time. The ball flew off the outside half of the bat, as it was bowled full and wide of off. Simple catch for the man on the boundary, who took it with a reverse cup. Ireland go 1-0 up in the series
Ireland vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I at Sharjah, AFG v IRE, Mar 15 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary
That is it from us tonight, as Ireland take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Not many gave them a chance, with the likes of Rashid and Nabi in the opposition's bowling attack, but Tector's fifty led the way for them. It is goodnight and goodbye from Ranjith and me, Himanshu, as we see you again for the second T20I in two days' time. Take care!
Paul Stirling, Ireland captain: "Really happy. It was a fantastic team performance. Their bowling attack is pretty special... We have a big two months ahead. So we've got to put this behind. We have to perform at our best to win games. As a team, we performed brilliantly - and that is where we want to be."
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captain, says the early wickets lost is where it went wrong for his side.
Ben White is the Player of the Match for his 4 for 20: "Really nice to contribute. It's really nice to be back [after the back injury]. Had to respect the umpire's decision [regarding the no-ball]. Nice to take a few [wickets]."
Time for the presentations
11.35pm A come-from-behind win by Ireland. With the bat, they were 72 for 5 in the 12th over, but went on to post 149 in 20 overs. When defending, Afghanistan were 43 for 3 in the seventh over, and the game was in the balance. But Ben White took four wickets after that - he finished with 4 for 20 - as Afghanistan folded for 111, and Ireland won by 38 runs. Hang around for the presentations.
goes for a short ball on a slightly wide line outside off, and it is left alone by Naveen
full and straight, and driven down to long-on. They don't run again
gone over short third! He goes deep in the crease, and a bit across while almost losing his balance, as he slices this full ball a bit wide of off
a high full toss on the stumps, and defended back towards the bowler
full and swinging into middle and off. Driven hard to long-on
yorker a bit wide of off, and dragged to point with a flat bat
he opens his stance up, and then reverse scoops but is beaten by this fullish delivery which is wide of off
pumped into the roof! That travelled hard and flat over deep midwicket. Short delivery from Adair just outside off, and Naveen skipped down the pitch to expertly slam that back
it is a full toss which he angles in, and it ends on his pads. Whipped to deep square
Adair back
slower ball, as he goes fullish and around sixth stump. Naveen went for a swing, but was beaten
quite full and angling into off. Driven to deep point from deep in the crease, but they don't run
short of a length angling into leg, and swat pulled down the ground towards long-on
another very full ball angled into off. Pushed to short third for a single
bowls a yorker just outside off, as Farooqi opens the face of the bat to try and guide that but was beaten
Farooqi is the last man
taken by long-on moving to his left! Little angled this in, and the ball ended up being a dipping full toss just outside off. Rashid lofted from deep in the crease, but couldn't get it away, with Tector moving to his left in time, and taking it in front of his chest
Little back, from around
slower ball, and short and wide of off. Again Naveen looked to hack, but was beaten
on a length on off, and straightening too. Pushed to deep third after playing late
this time manages to slash it away on the bounce to deep point, as the ball is short and wide outside off
Mike: "What an evening for White. Competing with Afghani spinners is no easy task"
another short ball, and this one gets up rather nicely on a sixth-stump line. Naveen looked to guide that to deep third, but was beaten
Over 19 • AFG 111/10