Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
15 | 8 Runs | AFG: 95/5 | RR: 6.33

  • Azmatullah Omarzai15 (14b)
  • Usman Ghani44 (40b)
  • Curtis Campher4-0-21-0
  • Gareth Delany2-0-10-0

Hamid Seddiqi: "Afghanistan would've loved to take 20 overs but not 57 in 7 overs... To me DL is not applicable in today's modern game" I get what you are trying to say and especially in T20 cricket. But this is what we have, for now.

safiullah: "Can we see rashid khan's magic today !! " Afghanistan will certainly hope for some. It's not going to be easy to grip the ball, though.

6.30pm We are all set to start at 6.40pm. The target for Ireland to win the series is 56 off 7 overs. They will really fancy their chances here with all ten wickets in place. A reminder that Paul Stirling needs only five runs to reach 3000 runs in T20I cricket. He will be out to bat shortly alongside Andrew Balbirnie.

Afghanistan never really got going with the bat, as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Only Usman Ghani was able to hold fort at one end, but even he found the going tough. They could muster 95 in 15 overs losing five wickets before rain came pelting down. Mark Adair was sensational in his opening burst picking 3 for 16 in his two overs while Josh Little struck twice in two balls to send back Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.

6.25pm And, the stumps are also put in place. the Afghan fielders are warming up in the background. We'll have an official word on Ireland's target shortly. Stay tuned.

6.15pm The lines are being re-painted, a light roller being used. There was an inspection at 6.15 local time by the umpires and Afghanistan will not come out to bat again is the official update from Cricket Ireland. We are still waiting on the news about Ireland's target and how many overs they will need to chase it down in.

6.05pm Thanks, Suds. I do come bearing some good news. The rain seems to have relented and the ground staff are hard at work. The Super-sopper is hard at work with the umpires in the middle having a discussion. Not sure how many overs will be lost, if at all. The chances of Afghanistan coming out to bat, look slim, if I am being perfectly honest. The two covers are completely off, as I type. Only the main hover cover remains. The hover cover also comes off now. Doesn't seem long before we have a resumption. There are dark clouds overhead, but the forecast for the rest of the day is slightly better.

6pm Frustration... more frustration. Not for me but certainly for the ground staff. As they started peeling off the covers, the drizzle has returned! And I shall leave Ashish to call it all as it, hopefully, literally unfolds.

5:45pm Considerable action now taking place. The rain has eased and it is a bit brighter than what it was about 20 minutes before. The supersopper is being used to absorb the water on top of the covers.

Rohan: "So what is the status? Any chance of AFG coming out to bat again ??" We await the official word. The understanding was that we had an hour (when players originally went off) before we start losing over. And we just have crossed an hour mark. We should get a confirmation once the prospects of play increase.

5:35pm The rain seems to have gotten lighter. The covers are fully in place, though. The steady drizzle will have to give way completely for them to peel off the covers.

BeardGuy: "I just noticed that Josh Little's sisters Hannah " Yes, Hannah played the last of her four T20Is during the Quadrangular in 2019. Her younger sister, Louise, was seen more recently, in November last year.

5:20pm Absolutely pelting down now. The square area is also firmly under covers as the ground staff are trying to ensure that the seepage onto the pitch is minimum by getting the hover cover and the surrounding areas covered. More covers are brought on to shield the outfield now but there is still a fair amount of turf uncovered. This could be a lengthy delay, I am afraid...

5:08pm After about a 23-minute delay, the players are all set in the middle. Scratch that! It's began to drizzle again and the players are forced off again! That kind of a day. The groundstaff are swift in bringing the covers on with the centre covered up first, followed by the run-up area on either side. This is indeed very unfortunate. The last thing that a series-decider needed. The rain has gotten heavier as I type and the visibility is also affected, because it is slightly windy, too.

5:03pm Thanks Ashish! All the covers are now off and we are close to resumption. The stumps are being erected now and saw dust is being sprinkled at the top or the bowlers' run-ups. The Ireland players are up on their feet and warming up, too.

Hafiz Sajid Ali: "Rashid Khan has already played many matches all over the world so he knows better how to deal with a good Afghanistan team in the Asia Cup. I suggest that he should captain the team and Nabi should give chance to youngsters because they have enough batting in their country. I really think they can beat any of the team on asian grounds "

4.55pm The umpires are having a discussion in the middle. As far as I can tell, the rain seems to have eased. Just the hover cover for the pitch and two supporting covers on either side of the bowler's run-up in place. And as I scamper for some coffee, here's Sudarshanan in the driver's seat.

Reminder that Josh Little is on a hat-trick and he will dearly love to claim that feat if he gets a chance today. He will be Hundred-bound tomorrow where he has been signed up by Manchester Originals.

Shikeeb : "Rashid might have opportunity to achieve his coveted record of fastest 50, as he said in 25 questions video." Ah, indeed. Would be worth a watch, for sure.

Mitan: "AFG vs IR rain delayed. ENG vs SA rain delayed. Where should I go now.. :(. Why rain why??? :(" Well, there is the Hundred to look forward to.

Bacha khan : "Captain M. Nabi form is a real concern for Afghanistan team considering upcoming Asia cup and World Cup . " Definitely a concern, he just hasn't seemed himself all series. Having said that, the delivery to him today was a snorter, with the keeper completing an even better catch.

Azweer : "Breathing time for Afghanistan batters.. can rephrase the innings, if they get another chance to bat."

4:45pm The hover cover is out in the middle covering the pitch as the umpires are having a word with the groundstaff. No umbrellas, so that is a good sign that the delay might not be long. More covers, however, are being brought out to the middle.

The rain comes hurling down. The clouds have been threatening for a while and this was almost inevitable. The commentators on-air are hopeful this is not going to be a long delay.

14.6
2
Campher to Azmatullah Omarzai, 2 runs, Banged in short, he shapes up for the pull, gets nowhere near it and for the better. The ball falls in no man's land with Dockrell running in from deep midwicket.
14.5
0
Campher to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Ah, excellent ball and the batter has no answer to that. Short of a length tailing into Omarzai, who pokes at it on middle and leg, misses.
14.4
1
Campher to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Short of a good length around leg, he clips it to deep midwicket.
14.3
4
Campher to Usman Ghani, FOUR, CRUNCHED! Gets it short and wide, and he needs no second invitation there. Slams the cut to the deep point fence.

Hamid Seddiqi: "I guess one of them will to start taking chances ... No more wicket in the next three overs 25 score will be a decent result for Afgh"

14.2
1
Campher to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, Back of a length around the legstump. Omarzai stays legside of it and chips to long on for a run.
14.1
0
Campher to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Length ball on the pads, he gives himself a bit of room and meekly fends it to the bowler.

END OF OVER:
14 | 7 Runs | AFG: 87/5 | RR: 6.21

  • Azmatullah Omarzai12 (10b)
  • Usman Ghani39 (38b)
  • Gareth Delany2-0-10-0
  • Barry McCarthy3-0-14-0
13.6
1
Delany to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, length outside off, he still stays on the backfoot and pushes through the covers
13.5
1
Delany to Usman Ghani, 1 run, floated, sliding onto the stumps. He goes back and taps to short third man.
13.4
1
Delany to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, a bit short on leg stump, he turns it to deep backward square leg
13.3
1
Delany to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Fuller, darted in on off, he pushes to deep cover
13.2
2
Delany to Usman Ghani, 2 runs, quicker, shorter on middle stumps, he goes back and lofts to deep midwicket. Wasn't timed as well as h would have liked.
13.1
1
Delany to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, just a tad short on middle and leg, he turns it to deep square leg where the fielder moves around so well

Delany back on. The commentators inform there is a bit of drizzle in the air, now

END OF OVER:
13 | 9 Runs | AFG: 80/5 | RR: 6.15

  • Usman Ghani35 (35b)
  • Azmatullah Omarzai9 (7b)
  • Barry McCarthy3-0-14-0
  • Curtis Campher3-0-13-0
12.6
0
McCarthy to Usman Ghani, no run, Ah, changes the pace up there and deceives the batter. Off-cutter outside off, Ghani is through the shot way too early. Misses.
12.5
1
McCarthy to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, Short of a good length on middle and leg, he taps it to the right of the bowler, who runs across but can't prevent the run
12.4
4
McCarthy to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR, In the slot outside off, he stays in his crease and drives it very well to the left of mid-off. No stopping that!
12.4
1w
McCarthy to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 wide, Banged in short but that, once again, is very high. Goes over the batter's head. Called a wide.
12.3
1
McCarthy to Usman Ghani, 1 run, back of a length outside off, he scythes it to deep point.
12.2
1
McCarthy to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, length on the pads, tickled to deep fine leg.
12.1
1
McCarthy to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Length outside off, he pushes on the up to deep cover

McCarthy comes into the attack.

Ireland 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st17A BalbirniePR Stirling
2nd21PR StirlingLJ Tucker
3rd7LJ TuckerHT Tector
4th11GH DockrellHT Tector