Match tied (Ireland won the Super Over)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Kevin O Brien
Batter
Bowler
Asghar Afghan collects the prize money first, then the trophy. Picks it up and walks up towards his team-mates, who are standing in front of the "Winner" hoarding. The scoreline may be 2-1 in favour of Afghanistan but they were made to work hard in this series. It's a special day for Ireland today as they managed to win a T20I against this opposition after 7 years. A barren run comes to an end. So, they can be pretty happy about their performance, especially their bowling unit. That wraps our coverage for this T20I series. We'll take leave and keep following Cricbuzz for all the cricket news and updates. Ta-ta!
Asghar Afghan: I want to congratulate Ireland, they played really good cricket today. The wicket was good, our batsmen played poor shots. Their bowlers bowled in good areas. It was difficult, they played well. They were good, we have a lot of matches in the upcoming months, it's about giving chances to everyone. It was a good series and lots to learn for us. Thank you for all the fans.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Player of the Series: There were good matches, we were prepared for it. If you see the players our squad, I get to learn a lot from guys like Nabi, Rashid and everyone else. When the captain and coach give me my role, I abide by that.
Kevin O Brien, Player of the Match: I think going into the Super Over needing 8 or 9 against one of the best in the business was not easy. Really good win. I think Harry Tector has been brilliant for us. Delay has proved his form today. We are starting to build a strong squad. The World Cup is 10 months away, we've got a lot of learing to do. We have learnt from game 1 to game 3, specific plans and it's a great sign for us. Every wicket plays differently, so you gotta adjust quickly.
Andrew Balbirnie: It was a great game of cricket. It went to the SuperOver, so was brilliant. Very impressive with the way we bowled today. T20 is all about momentum. It's taken a long time, we've put in some hard yards and it's a great win for us. We've got young guys in the middle order, it's about giving them some confidence.
17:49 Local Time, 12:19 GMT, 17:49 IST: A fitting end to this series. Jubilation for Ireland as they successfully avoid the whitewash and walk home with some pride. KOB, who once scripted the famous 2011 World Cup over for Ireland over England at the Chinnaswamy Stadium has done it again. Not an easy task to take on one of the best in the business in this format, but it wasn't Rashid's day with the ball. He may have helped them secure a tie with his pyrotechnics in the final over with the bat, however, KOB has won the battle here. Ireland's players are over the moon, they've pulled a victory from the jaws of defeat. Presentations to follow, stay tuned.
Ball 6: Rashid to KOB, SIX, the 7-year WAIT is over for Ireland. KOB, the savour for them. Picks this flighted delivery, gets low and clouts it high in the air at long-off. The fielder was setting himself under it and just about clears him for a SIX
Ball 5: Rashid to Tector, 1 run, hoicks it across the line to mid-wicket. 3 runs needed off 1 ball
Ball 4: Rashid to Tector, no run, goes for the almighty slog, fails to make any connection
Stumping check sent upstairs. Is it all over? The Afghan players don't look too excited. Fair delivery. Tector's back leg is very much grounded when the bails are dislodged. Safe
Ball 3: Rashid to Sterling, OUT, LBW! Rashid strikes. Trust him to bounce back. Slips another googly, Sterling went for the encore but it didn't rise as much as he anticipated it to.. misses and is struck on the back thigh. Dead. Stirling lbw Rashid Khan
Ball 2: Rashid to Sterling, 4 runs, Sterling has nailed it. Expected the googly and mowed it wide of long-on. In the gap and it's FOUR. Got down low, read the turn and then heaved it into the gap wide of long-on. 5 runs | 2 balls
BALL 1: Rashid to KOB, 1 run, top edge.. who wants it? Nobody actually as it falls in no-man's land at mid-wicket. KOB gets low and aims for the slog-sweep, gets a big top edge and escapes - 1 for 0
Afghanistan's players are already in the middle. I can see Kevin O Brien, so he's definitely one among the three batsmen. Paul Sterling too is ready. Tector seems to be the other guy. No prizes for guessing who's going to bowl for Afghanistan. It's the spin wizard - Rashid Khan. Skipper Asghar Afghan is looking relaxed and is seen smiling. All set then.
Brilliant from Young. Both the Afghan batsman couldn't even manage a single boundary in the SuperOver. Could only muster singles and twos. Will it be enough for Afghanistan? Can Ireland hunt this down? We shall find out.
Ball 6: Young to Gurbaz, 2 runs, shorter outside off, Gurbaz slashes it up and over cover. They will race back for the second. The throw comes to the keeper's end, who quickly whips the bails off. But the batsman is found to be safe in the end. Target for Ireland is 9
Third umpire called into service. Gurbaz seems to be struggling and looks to short of his crease. Should be gone. Matter of inches. The TV umpire is looking at different angles, so he's taking his time. Well, this appears a little tricky from the other angle. Still waiting.. has the batsman dragged his bat over the line? Green light flashes, so it's NOT OUT
Ball 5: Young to Nabi, 1 run, Nabi ain't getting the timing right. Very full just outside off, Nabi goes deep and skews it off the inside half to deep mid-wicket. 6 runs | 5 balls
Ball 4: Young to Nabi, 2 runs, shortish, Nabi looks to pull and gets a top edge to fine leg. The ball was in the air for a long time, but bounced wide of the fielder rushing across from the deep, he did well to palm it back in and saved the boundary5 runs | 4 balls
BALL 3: Young to Gurbaz, 1 run, superb stuff from Young. Gets it full and straight, Gurbaz gets low and sweeps it to short fine leg, off the inner-half and dropped well in front of the fielder. 3 runs | 3 balls