IRE VS AFG - Super Sixes Match 9, ICC World Cup Qualifiers, 2018

Afghanistan after first three games - L L L. They needed a miracle just to enter the Super Sixes and Nepal gave them that by beating Hong Kong. Their journey began from there as they defeated Windies, who were unbeaten till then in the first game. UAE provided little fight against the Afghanistan spinners. Even after two wins in the Super Sixes they were not safe. Another miracle needed to happen and it was another Asian team - UAE defeating hosts Zimbabwe to give them the lifeline. That result made sure Afghanistan had their fate in their own hands and boy haven't they made the most of it. From being dead and buried in the initial part of the tournament to finding themselves among the 10 best teams, Afghanistan's journey has come a full circle. On that note, this is Akshay Maanay signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Pratyush Sinha and Varun Dixit. Goodbye!

Stanikzai: We qualify for the 2019 World Cup. There is pain but playing for country is important. It is a dream. Afghanistan is famous for coming back; after losing three games at the start we came back. Of course (the whole country will be celebrating).

Porterfield: First of all congratulations to Afghanistan. We were 20-25 runs short with the bat. The boys did a great job of defending that target. We have several weeks off before we get back. It (playing Tests) gives us something to look forward. Everything is pretty raw at the minute. If you lose three games, you are not going to qualify. We had a few key moments in the game and we could have played them better.

The Afghanistan players are still celebrating. This is not going to stop anytime soon. Some of players have the Afghanistan flag wrapped around them. And Stanikzai has been picked up on the shoulders. He certainly gave meaning to a captain's knock today. Under tremendous pain and with heavy strapping the Afghanistan captain battled his physical demons to win the game for his country. However, there needs to be a pause in the celebrations as Stanikzai is summoned for the presentations..

Mohammad Shahzad - Player of the Match: We lost matches before coming to super six but here we played good cricket. The plan was simple - to wait for the loose delivery. I don't care if it's a spinner or a fast bowler. I believe in myself. My coaching staff and senior players motivate me. Thanks to them, my form is back in a crucial game. West Indies, we are coming (talking about the final).

Earlier in the day, the four Afghanistan spinners restricted Ireland to 209. They never allowed the Irish batsmen to get on top of them and if not for the two O Brien brothers, the target would have been much less. Rashid was the pick of the lot with figures of 3/40 and was well backed up by the remaining bowlers. Ireland would rue the fact that they didn't show more intent in their innings and a matter of 10-15 might have made a huge difference.

16:45 Local Time, 14:45 GMT, 20:15 IST: What a game! It kept tilting and turning until that mighty six from Najibullah in the 48th over. However, it was the calmness of skipper Asghar Stanikzai that was the difference between Ireland and Afghanistan. Mohammad Shahzad, out of sorts for the most of the tournament, decided to turn up today. The wicket-keeper got the Asian side off to a flier with a 50-ball 54. But his wicket brought Ireland back in the game and some disciplined bowling saw them take the required rate past six. Then comes a half fit Stanikzai, who mixed caution with aggression to take his side into the 2019 World Cup.

Barry McCarthy to Stanikzai, FOUR, Afghanistan join Windies for the 2019 World Cup. Look at Stanikzai. Where did the pain disappear? He is yelling and pumping his fists. Not even bothering to run. Coach Phil Simmons gets up from his chair and hugs Rashid Khan. The remaining Afghanistan players run out to congratulate their players. Coming to the ball: Yorker length delivery, Stanikzai backs away and gets the bat down in time to squeeze it away to the fine leg fence

Barry McCarthy [9.0-0-53-1] is back into the attack

One run separates Afghanistan and a World Cup spot. McCarthy to bowl the final over. Here we go..

Rankin to Stanikzai, 1 run, scores are level. Short delivery at the body, Stanikzai is hurried on the pull shot and he miscues it over the square leg umpire, is content with a single as deep square leg cleans up

Rankin to Stanikzai, no run, short of length close to off, Stanikzai drops it into the off-side and sets off, Najibullah sends him back

Rankin to Stanikzai, 2 runs, Afghanistan inch closer. Good length ball just outside off, Stanikzai opens the bat face and the intended steer takes the outside edge to run away fine, hobbles his way back for the second

Rankin to Stanikzai, no run, Niall O Brien appeals for a caught behind. Nothing from Rankin or the umpire. He was the only one yelling for the catch. Short and outside off, Stanikzai cuts and misses. Not sure there was any noise

Rankin to Najibullah, 1 run, short and outside off, Najibullah makes room and upper cuts it over point. The sweeper cover collects it on the bounce

Rankin to Najibullah, 2 runs, wrong line from Rankin. On leg-stump, Najibullah gets inside the line and tickles it fine. Balbirnie gets across and slides to haul it in, just managed to do so. Two saved

7 off 12. Ireland need a special effort to pull this off now. Afghanistan have this in the pocket. But cricket finds a way to surprise. Is there a twist left in the game? Here's Rankin with the penultimate over..

Murtagh to Najibullah, 1 run, short of length on off, Najibullah pulls and the inside edge deflects off the thigh pad to backward square. 9 off the over and Afghanistan are two hits away from sealing this

Murtagh to Najibullah, SIX, "he's nailed it," yells Ian Bishop on air. That shot has got the Afghanistan players on their feet. Is that one of the nails in the coffin? Length delivery right in the slot, Najibullah clears his front leg and murders it over cow corner. Went a long way back into the stands

Murtagh to Najibullah, no run, and the mid-wicket fielder is in action again.. Najibullah hops and tucks the back of a length delivery to him. 14 off 14 now