Afghanistan won by 21 runs
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Batter
Bowler
Afghanistan have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead and will head into the third and final match with a lot of confidence. Plenty of soul searching to do for the Irish - especially about their lack of intent against spin. The final game gives them another opportunity to correct some faults. Do join us for that game. For now, cheers and bye..
Asghar Afghan - This series was very important, the openers gave us a solid start, this was a difficult wicket to bat on. We decided to take some time, rotate the strike and then play our shots. The ball wasn't coming nicely onto the bat - we knew we had some fine hitters down the order and wanted to set a platform. Rashid is good in the middle overs and Mujeeb does well at the top - they are a good combination. Every game is very important for us, we will look to do well in the last match as well.
Mujeeb Zadran is the Player of the Match
Andrew Balbirnie - We started well, but they are a dangerous side and came hard at us in the last few overs. We started well with the bat, we always have had good starts, but fell away in the middle overs. We need to learn our lessons and do well in the remaining games.
Ireland haven't beaten Afghanistan in T20Is since 2013 and they fail to crack the spin code once again. Most of their batsmen got starts, but once spin came in or rather when Rashid came into bowl, they lost the plot completely. One of the top-order batsmen needed to make a big score, but Balbirnie's 46 turned out to be the highest score. Rashid took only one wicket but he befuddled the batsmen completely with his bag of tricks and the visitors were never in the chase during the final few overs. So, the hosts seal the series 2-0 and will look to complete the whitewash in the final game on 11th.
END OF OVER 20
4 Runs
IRE: 163 - 6
1 1 0 1 1 0
George Dockrell
9 (5)
Simi Singh
13 (10)
Shapoor
4-0-25-1
Shapoor to Simi Singh, no run, yorker length delivery outside off, Singh makes room and swings, misses it completely. Afghanistan win by 21 runs
Shapoor to Dockrell, 1 run, yorker length delivery at the stumps, driven down towards long-on for a run. Dockrell wanted a second and is sent back, there's a direct hit, but he's well back - the third umpire has a look
Shapoor to Simi Singh, 1 run, slower short ball outside off, heaved away towards deep mid-wicket for a single
Shapoor to Simi Singh, no run, on a good length and well wide of off, Singh runs down the track and is beaten on the swing
Shapoor to Dockrell, 1 run, back of a length and at the stumps, pulled away to deep square leg for a single
Shapoor to Simi Singh, 1 run, short of a good length and just outside off, slugged away to long-on for a single
26 needed from the last over. Shapoor, from round the wicket
END OF OVER 19
15 Runs
IRE: 159 - 6
1 4 2 1 6 1
Simi Singh
11 (6)
George Dockrell
7 (3)
Rashid Khan
4-0-26-1
Rashid Khan to Simi Singh, 1 run, the wrong 'un from Rashid, swept in front of square on the on-side for a single
Rashid Khan to Simi Singh, SIX, beautifully played, Simi runs down the track, gets close to the ball and then lifts it high and over long-off for a maximum
Rashid Khan to Dockrell, 1 run, slower and well outside off, mistimed cut wide of cover for a single
Rashid Khan to Dockrell, 2 runs, the wrong 'un from Rashid, Dockrell gets an inside edge on the cut and squirts back for the second run
Rashid Khan to Dockrell, FOUR, lovely, tossed up outside off, Dockrell uses his reach to good effect and drilled it in the air - to the right of long-off who put the dive and got his right hand, but can't prevent the boundary
Rashid Khan to Simi Singh, 1 run, the wrong 'un from Rashid, Singh was looking to sweep and gloves it behind square on the on-side
Rashid Khan [3.0-0-11-1] is back into the attack
George Dockrell, right handed bat, comes to the crease