Ireland vs Afghanistan 3rd T20I Highlights: Afghanistan Beat Ireland To Keep Series Alive

We are back for the run chase. The Afghanistan players make their way out to the middle. Followed by Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling who walk out to open for Ireland. Fazalhaq Farooqi to start with the new ball.

... The Run Chase ...

Now the target is a big one but Ireland have batted decently in this tournament but here they’ll have to bat at their best. Afghanistan will back their bowlers to defend this. The chase on the other side. Stay tuned.

Ireland will be disappointed with the way they bowled. They began really well but after the Powerplay lost the plot. There were far too many extras too from them which did not help their cause. Overall, they might feel they missed a trick this time around, especially after bowling so well in the first two games.

The start though was a slow one. The two openers were quite watchful in the first 6 but once set, they did step on the gas. They laid the platform for a good score. Gurbaz scored a half ton and ended as the top scorer. However, cameos down the order from the two Zadrans also helped take Afghanistan to a very good total.

End of a power-packed batting performance from the visitors and they have got themselves into a good position to bag their first win of the tournament. Ireland could not maintain the pressure with the ball and would be disappointed with their effort.

OUT! CAUGHT! Najibullah Zadran tries to go for a biggie again but finds the fielder. Short ball, outside off. Zadran stays back and pulls it to deep square leg. Fionn Hand stationed there takes a solid catch. Najibullah Zadran's brisk innings of 42 comes to an end. Afghanistan ends their innings at 189/5.

SIX! Najibullah Zadran wants to get closer to that 190 mark. It is short, on off. Zadran smokes it over the wide long on fence for a maximum.

A low full toss, around off. Zadran mistimes his pull towards deep mid-wicket. It lands safely. They take two.

SIX! All the way! It is fuller, in the slot. Zadran heaves it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Short one, around off. Zadran swings but misses.

OUT! RUN OUT! Really great work in the field by Harry Tector. It is short, on off. Nabi pulls it to deep mid-wicket. It could've gone over the ropes but Harry Tector makes a valiant effort to stop the ball. The batters decide to take three but it isn't the right decision. Harry Tector throws it to the bowler at the non-striker's end who is quick to take the bails off. Mohammad Nabi is well short of the crease.

Change. Mark Adair to bowl the final over.

SIX! Consecutive maximums. It is full, outside off. Najibullah Zadran swings hard at it and sends it sailing over the cover fence for a biggie. Graham Hume ends his spell with 41 runs and no wickets.

SIX! BOOM! It is a length ball, on off. Zadran clears his front leg and tonks it over the mid-wicket fence.

Swing and a miss! Najibullah Zadran thinks it should've been a wide but the umpire keeps his arms to himself. It is a short ball, angled across the left-hander. Zadran throws his blade at it but misses.

Hume goes full again, wide outside off. Nabi drives it gently towards covers and rotates the strike.

Fuller, wide outside off. Nabi reaches out and pushes it towards sweeper cover. They take two.

Graham Hume nails his wide yorker this time. Nabi shuffles across and tries to dig it out but misses it completely.

Change. Graham Hume comes back into the attack to bowl the penultimate over.