Ireland won by 3 wkts
Batter
Bowler
So, Ireland make a meal of a small score. Simi Singh in the end showed nerves of steel to see them through. And they wrap-up their first victory to be alive in this ODI series. Afghanistan are a champion team and you expect them to come storming back in the decider. Join us on Friday for that. Until then, this is Varun Dixit signing off on behalf of Ramakrishnan, Raju and Harish.
William Porterfield, winning skipper: Pretty good performance by the boys. Simi batted really well. It was nice to see us through. I didn't face too many balls so I can't tell you about the pitch. It was a great effort from them to take wickets in the middle overs. It would have been nice to get over the line with 10-15 overs to go but it is important that we won.
Asghar Afghan, losing skipper: We were 25-30 runs short. We lost too many wickets with the new ball. Our bowlers bowled really well after first 15 overs. Wicket was difficult.
Balbirnie: "We needed a win like that after the last game. Would have been nice if I remained not out. I enjoy playing for Ireland. I anticipate a close game again on Friday."
Excellent all-round effort by Simi Singh. Took a wicket and then kept his calm under pressure to steer his side home. Poterfield fell early in the chase, but Stirling and Balbirnie shared a 69-run stand for the second wicket to put Ireland on top. However, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan put the brakes on the scoring with regular inroads. Simi Singh stayed put at one end and saw off some tough phases when the Afghan spinners were on top. Balbirnie played very well to ensure a good start for the hosts.
Nabi to Murtagh, 2 runs, edged past slip and Ireland make it 1-1 with a game to go. Flighted delivery from Nabi, Murtagh tries to defend, gets a thick edge that runs away towards third man
Nabi to Murtagh, no run, on the leg stump, nudged towards square leg
Nabi to Murtagh, 5 wides, this is a big gift. Afghanistan have bowled too many extras. Fired down the leg-side, the keeper fails to collect and it's four extra runs
Nabi to Simi Singh, 1 run, short and outside off stump, cuts to deep cover
Nabi to Simi Singh, no run, punched back to the bowler
Nabi to Simi Singh, no run, flighted delivery on the stumps, Singh defends
Mohammad Nabi [8.0-2-30-2] is back into the attack
So it still is 8 runs needed and 3 wickets in hand
END OF OVER 43
4 Runs
IRE: 175 - 7
L1 0 2 1 0 0
Simi Singh
35 (56)
Tim Murtagh
2 (9)
Mujeeb
10-0-41-1
Mujeeb to Murtagh, no run, LBW shout turned down and rightly so. Mujeeb is unhappy and kicks the turf. Top call, because the ball spun away and would have just missed the stumps, Murtagh tried to play across the line and missed
Mujeeb to Murtagh, no run, Afghanistan are fighting hard. Mud coming off from the pitch when Murtagh tried to drag his back foot in has saved him here. Murtagh overbalanced on the defence and came out of the crease, the leg was on the line when the stumps were broken, but there wasn't any conclusive evidence to say that bails were completely off the groove when Murtagh was on the line
Mujeeb to Simi Singh, 1 run, very full, Singh flicks it to square leg
Mujeeb to Simi Singh, 2 runs, dabbed away late and past the diving slip fielder, let the ball come to him and then gets bat on ball
Mujeeb to Simi Singh, no run, fullish and on the off stump, Singh defends
Mujeeb to Murtagh, leg byes, 1 run, down the leg-side, Murtagh misses the glance, the ball rolls to fine leg off the pad
Mujeeb Ur Rahman [9.0-0-38-1] is back into the attack