AFG VS IRE - 1st T20I, Afghanistan v Ireland in India, 2020

17:23 Local Time, 11:53 GMT, 17:23 IST: The spectators have started to leave the stadium as we won't have further play. Afghanistan win the match by 11 runs (DLS method) and go 1-0 up in the series. Ireland got off to a superb start earlier in the day as Stirling and Kevin O Brien decimated the Afghan bowlers in the powerplay, but once that partnership was broken, Afghanistan came back strongly. Rashid Khan was introduced in the attack and the leggie claimed three crucial wickets in the form of Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker. As a result of that spell by Rashid, Ireland were restricted to 172/6. Afghanistan openers got the team off to a flier adding 50 runs in the first 4 overs, but they were dismissed by Simi Singh in the same over. The hosts lost few more wickets after the openers departed, but Shinwari and Najibullah had a fantastic 53-run stand to keep them alive in the run chase. It was that partnership that led Afghanistan's recovery and although Shinwari was dismissed just before the rain arrived, it didn't make much of a diffirence. He had done enough damage to get his team over the line. That brings an end to our today's coverage. Afghanistan continue their domination over Ireland and they'll try to replicate the same in the remaining two games. See you on the 8th March for the coverage of the second T20I. For now, it's a goodbye from our side..

17:15 Local Time, 11:45 GMT, 17:15 IST: The drizzle has gotten heavier and looking at live pictures I don't think we'll get any further play. We'll wait for the official update though.

16:51 Local Time, 11:21 GMT, 16:51 IST: It's gone dark in Noida and the umpires have called for the covers. The hessian has been placed on the main pitch at the moment with the groundstaff bringing in more sheets to protect the main square. Afghanistan were ahead according on the DLS score before the fall of the wicket, it that going to make a difference? Just as I type this, the rain has eased out a bit, but the covers are firmly on. Afghanistan are ahead of the DLS par score at the moment. So just in case if the match gets washed out, Afghanistan will go 1-0 up in the series.

Rankin to Shinwari, out Bowled!! Knocked him over! In fact, it's just kissed the bails on its way to the keeper. A short delivery by Rankin and this one skids off the surface, Shinwari gets beaten on his pull and the ball brushes the bails to hand Rankin a wicket. With that it has also started raining. Shinwari b Rankin 28(29) [4s-3]

Rankin to Shinwari, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Rankin to Shinwari, no run, a short ball by Rankin again and Shinwari gets beaten as he attempts a pull shot

Rankin to Shinwari, no run, shortish delivery outside off, touch slower and Shinwari sways away

Rankin to Shinwari, no run, nasty ball! Short one by Rankin, Shinwari goes for a pull and gets hit on the abdomen, or just beside it. He's in pain is the batsman and the physio is out to attend him, applies the magic spray and storms back as they sense some rain in the air

Rankin to Najibullah, 1 run, touch fuller around middle and leg, Najibullah drives it towards mid-on for one

Rankin to Najibullah, SIX, Najibullah is on fire. Someone please get an extinguisher. A half-volley by Rankin outside off, Najibullah clears his front leg and tonks this one over wide long-off for half-a-dozen. Such a clean strike that was

Simi Singh to Shinwari, no run, opens the bat face and slices this towards short third man

Simi Singh to Najibullah, 1 run, knocked down to long-off by Najibullah for one run

Simi Singh to Shinwari, 1 run, played through the off side by Shinwari for one more

Simi Singh to Najibullah, 1 run, short ball outside off, Najibullah punches it through covers for one

Simi Singh to Najibullah, 2 runs, played with soft hands to long-on by Najibullah and that allows them to take two more

Simi Singh to Shinwari, 1 run, back in his crease to knock the flatter delivery down to long-off

Simi Singh [2.0-0-12-2] is back into the attack

Rankin to Najibullah, 2 runs, here's the second fifty-run stand of this run chase. The openers got one and the middle openers are doing the same. Was a short ball outside off and Najibullah carved it towards backward point where a misfield helps them come back for two

Rankin to Shinwari, 1 run, back of a length delivery outside off, Shinwari cuts it uppishly towards short third man where Kevin O Brien dives forward to grab it. Was that a dropped catch? I think it dropped just ahead of the fielder, didn't carry to him

Rankin to Shinwari, no run, back of a length outside off, Shinwari attempts a square cut and gets an underedge to the keeper