AFG win by 39 runs | Live Cricket Score, Afghanistan vs Ireland 2016, 2nd ODI at Belfast

Hello and Welcome to CricketCountry's live coverage of the second of the five-match ODI series between Afghanistan and Ireland, at Belfast.

Good Afternoon, ماسپېښين مو نېکمرغه, Tráthnóna maith! Hello and Welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of the second of the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series between visitors Afghanistan and hosts Ireland, at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Tuesday. I am Sakshi Gupta, and I will be bringing to you the live updates from this tie. The opening match between both the sides on Sunday was washed out without a ball being bowled, owing to persistent rain, as same is the condition expected today, with fingers crossed and hope in everybody’s mind that play happens.

MATCH REPORT

Live Cricket Score Ireland 211 | Overs 48.2 | TARGET: 251 |Peter Chase 1 (3): That’s it! it’s all over for Ireland. Afghanistan have beaten them by 39 runs and go 1-0 up in the five-match series. The third ODI will be played on July 14 at the same venue. Mohammad Nabi and young Rashid Khan finished with three wickets apiece to bundle Ireland out for just 211. OUT! George Dockrell c rashid b Nabi 6 (13), Barry McCarthy b Dawlat 3 (10), Tim Murtagh c Naib b Dawlat 7 (11)

Live Cricket Score Ireland 197/7 | Overs 45 | TARGET: 251 | George Dockrell 5 (11), Barry McCarthy 1 (6): Ireland have slumped into trouble further, losing two more wickets in a span of five overs or so. Afghanistan are right on top at the moment and will look to clean the tail up soon and register an emphatic win. OUT! Paul Stirling c Rashid b Nabi, Andy McBrine LBW b Rashid 12 (21)

Live Cricket Score Ireland 177/5 | Overs 39 | TARGET: 251 | Paul Stirling 11 (12), Andy McBrine 3 (11): Afghanistan are right back in this game after picking a couple of quick wickets. John Anderson and Kevin o’Brien are back in the hut. After a good show with the ball O’Brien was looking at his explosive bets with the bat as well. Young leg-spinner Rashid Khan picks up both wickets and the required run rate has gone past six now. OUT! John Anderson c Shahzad b Rashid 26 (55), Kevin O’Brien c Ashraf b Rashid 35 (23)

Live Cricket Score Ireland 156/3 | Overs 33 | TARGET: 251 | Kevin O’Brien 11(15), John Anderson 45(50): Anderson is well set now after a slow start to his innings. 32nd over was a big one for Ireland. Anderson went after Mohammad Nabi, beginning with a SIX. That went over extra-cover. DOT. He then makes room and smashes it to the point for FOUR. DOT. DOT. Oh lovely, ends the over also with a SIX! Goes down on the knee sweeps to over square leg. OUT! Stuart Poynter LBW b Mirwais 0(3), OUT! Ed Joyce c Mohammad Shahzad b Mirwais 62(87)

Live Cricket Score Ireland 85/1 | Overs 21 | TARGET: 251 | Ed Joyce 41(62), John Anderson 7(20): Mohammad Nabi draws first blood for Afghanistan, removes Porterfield in the 15th over. Nabi goes in the middle, gets turn and in reply an outside edge from the Irish skipper lands into the gloves behind the wicket. Anderson joins Joyce at the crease. He hasn’t settled yet, too many dot balls to increase the pressure on Ireland. OUT! William Porterfield c Mohammad Shahzad b Mohammad Nabi 25(44)

Live Cricket Score Ireland 57/0 | Overs 12 | TARGET: 251 | William Porterfield 23(35), Ed Joyce 28(36): Ireland are off to an excellent start. The openers have got the first fifty up for Ireland in 11.1 overs. The duo has hit six boundaries so far in their chase.

Live Cricket Score Ireland 15/0 | Overs 4 | TARGET: 251 | William Porterfield 12 (17), Ed Joyce 3 (7): Ireland are off to a slow but steady start. They need to go at just five an over and have a good batting line-up to achieve this target. Afghanistan on the other hand will be looking to make early inroads.

INNINGS REPORT

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 250 | Overs 49.2 | Shapoor Zadran 2 (6): And that’s the end of the first innings. Afghanistan will be a tad disappointed as they will feel that they could have scored at least another 20 runs, considering the start they had. Kevin O’Brien and McCarthy pulled things back extremely well for the hosts with four wickets apiece. Nevertheless, Afghanistan have a good total on the board and will back their bowlers to defend it. OUT! Mirwais Ashraf c Mcbrine b McCarthy 12 (12), Dawlat Zadran c Poynter b McCarthy 7 (9), Rashid Khan c McBrine b McCarthy

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 222/7 | Overs 45 | Dawlat Zadran 6 (6), Mirwais Ashraf 6 (6): Afghanistan have lost a couple of quick wickets. The well set Najibullah is dismissed by Barry McCarthy and Nabi was earlier trapped in front by Kevin O’Brien, who has four wickets to his name so far. Ireland will do very well, if they manage to restrict Afghanistan to under 250. OUT! Mohammad Nabi LBW b O’Brien 5 (10), Najibullah Zadran c Stirling b McCarthy 59 (61)

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 196/5 | Overs 39 | Najibullah Zadran 51(46), Mohammad Nabi 1 (1): Zadran scores a quick fire fifty as he and Shenwari look to take Afghanistan to a match-winning score. Irish bowlers have done well to pull things back. Shenwari has however been cleaned up by Dockrell. But he has played his part in this partnership. Mohammad Nabi is the new batsman for Afghanistan. OUT! Samiullah Shenwari b Dockrell 24 (35)

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 161/4 | Overs 34 | Samiullah Shenwari 15(26), Najibullah Zadran 28(26): Barry McCarthy into his 6th over. Najibullah faces the 1st ball, pushes it to covers, ONE RUN. Shenwari takes a single as well. Najibullah on strike again, SIX! DOT. DOT. Top edge, keeper cannot get his hand and Zadran sees that going for a FOUR!

DRINKS NOW

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 149/4 | Overs 33 | Samiullah Shenwari 14(25), Najibullah Zadran 17(21): Off-break spinner Andy McBrine is introduced into the attack now. Begins with a DOT. Najibullah comes forward, defends and pushes it back to the bowler. Shot! This times he goes down on his knee, smashes it between mid-wicket and deep square leg for a FOUR! Two singles follow. DOT. Single to deep mid-wicket to end the 33rd over, Najibullah will keep strike.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 142/4 | Overs 32 | Samiullah Shenwari 13(24), Najibullah Zadran 11(16): Tim Murtagh is making all the difference here with his economy. Another over giving just one run. So far: 7 overs, 19 runs, ECO: 2.71. Excellent stuff from him. He was the best for the side even during their previous ODI which was against Sri Lanka. He was their top wicket-taker with 3 scalps. Six runs in the last 2 overs.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 136/4 | Overs 30 | Samiullah Shenwari 10(17), Najibullah Zadran 9(11): Porterfield bringh back his pacers Murtagh and McCarthy into action. His spinners have almost done the job for him, with dismissals of Afghanistan’s main batsmen. Tim Murtagh does a great job once again, 1 run off his over. Najibullah targets McCarthy in the 30th over, uses full power as he smashes the delivery for FOUR over mid-off. 7 runs in the last 2 overs.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 129/4 | Overs 28 | Samiullah Shenwari 9(12), Najibullah Zadran 0(1): OUT! The O’Brien Junior makes a third breakthrough, another big blow for Afghanistan. Skipper departs for a DUCK. Stanikzai comes forward and as he tried to clear the mid-on, he doesn’t and gives Dockrell his 2nd catch. Five runs and a wicket in the last two overs. Visitors are struggling now. OUT! Asghar Stanikzai c George Dockrell b Kevin O’Brien 0(7)

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 124/3 | Overs 26 | Samiullah Shenwari 7(7), Asghar Stanikzai 0(4): Shenwari, the other crucial batsman in the Afghan squad immediately goes off the mark. OUT! Meanwhile, Peter Chase who has been expensive so far finally strikes, traps Rahmat in LBW. Afghanistan are giving away their strong start, wicket falling. OUT! Rahmat Shah LBW Peter Chase 14(26)

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 114/2 | Overs 23 | Rahmat Shah 11(19), Samiullah Shenwari 0(0): OUT! Kevin O’Brien strike again! Shahzad waits for the ball, takes his time but gets an edge. the ball flies high and Dockrell has all the time to go under it and take a clean catch. Big big blow for Afghanistan. Their main batsman has to walk back. OUT! Mohammad Shahzad c George Dockrell b Kevin O’Brien 66(79)

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 108/1 | Overs 22 | Mohammad Shahzad 60(73), Rahmat Shah 11(19): Peter Chase is brought back into the attack. Replaces Kevin O’Brien. Four singles off the over. Shahzad takes the last run, flicks it to the third man. Will keep strike.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 104/1 | Overs 21 | Mohammad Shahzad 58(71), Rahmat Shah 9(15): Still Dockrell and Kevin from either ends with the ball. After yet again slow start to the over, Shahzad comes forward and smashes it over the fence of cow corner for the FIRST SIX of the MATCH. That brings up Afghanistan’s 100 as well. DOT to end the over, Rahmat on strike.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 90/1 | Overs 19 | Mohammad Shahzad 50(65), Rahmat Shah 5(9): And here Shahzad brings up his 6th ODI FIFTY! Shahzad who averages almost 38 in the ODIs has been the most effective batsmen for Afghanistan for sometime. He has proved hos worth again and again and today once again he is up and strong when his side needs him to. Dockrell has now bowled his 5th over. He has so far given 20 runs.

DRINKS NOW

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 76/1 | Overs 16 | Mohammad Shahzad 41(55), Rahmat Shah 0(1): Dockrell and Kevin O’Brien from either end for Ireland. OUT! O’Brien strikes, finally a breakthrough, Ahmadi departs for 29. He goes down for a slog, misses it and the ball hits the top of his middle stump. FIRST WICKET OF THE DAY! 4 runs and a wicket in the last 2 overs. OUT! Javed Ahmadi b Kevin O’Brien 29(43)

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 72/0 | Overs 14 | Mohammad Shahzad 39(50), Javed Ahmadi 28(37): Porterfield brings in his star player, Kevin O’Brien. Javed welcomes him with a FOUR through extra-cover. Cuts it to over square for ONE RUN. DOT. Shahzad on strike, one towards third man. DOT. DOT. Shahzad will take strike now.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 66/0 | Overs 13 | Mohammad Shahzad 38(48), Javed Ahmadi 23(33): Spin brought in. George Dockrell given the ball now. 7 runs off his first two overs. Both the batsmen are taking it slow, not playing any unnecessary shots. Ireland need a breakthrough here!

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 51/0 | Overs 10 | Mohammad Shahzad 28(37), Javed Ahmadi 16(26): Ireland appeal for the first time in the game today! Barry McCarthy in to bowls the 10th over, Javed misses it completely with Barry shouting loud for a LBW appeal. Umpire was certain it was going down the leg side. NO RUN. Now Javed pulls it towards mid-wicket, TWO RUNS. He is getting into the party, now goes front and smashes it hard to the covers, FOUR! ONE RUN, keeps strike.This brings up Afghanistan their 1st FIFTY.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 43/0 | Overs 8 | Mohammad Shahzad 28(32), Javed Ahmadi 10(19): Barry McCarthy is into the attack now. This is his 3rd ODI for Ireland. Shahzad faces his first ball, waits for the delivery and then flicks it for a single through square leg. DOT. Javed now pulls it to gully for ONE. DOT. DOT. Shahzad now comes forward and pushes it towards the mid-wicket boundary for a FOUR.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 37/0 | Overs 7 | Mohammad Shahzad 23(28), Javed Ahmadi 9(17): Irish bowlers Peter Chase and Murtagh have done a great job so far. Especially the latter, who have given just 2 runs in his last 2 overs. Afghanistan really need to pull up here, in order to score big here.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 32/0 | Overs 5 | Mohammad Shahzad 22(24), Javed Ahmadi 5(9): Murtagh is making all the difference here, gives just one run. He has so far bowled 3 overs, giving 15 runs. Javed faced the ball, DOT. DOT, again. Goes for a single towards the cover region, Shahzad on strike. DOT, DOT. Murtagh has managed to maintain the same line and length and Afghanistan are clearly struggling against him. DOT to end the over.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 31/0 | Overs 4 | Mohammad Shahzad 22(21), Javed Ahmadi 4(6): Peter Chase continues to give extras. Two no balls to begin his second over. The third ball is smashed for a FOUR powerfully by Shahzad over the extra-cover. 4 DOTS. Another excellent timing from Shahzad, makes it up for the 4 dots. Picks it towards the on-side, clearing the rope over the square region.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 19/0 | Overs 3 | Mohammad Shahzad 12(13), Javed Ahmadi 4(6): Another decent over from Murtagh, just 6 runs off it. Ireland will be happy if they manage to keep Shahzad quiet. Once he gets going, there is little Irish can do then.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 13/0 | Overs 2 | Mohammad Shahzad 10(11), Javed Ahmadi 1(2): Not a goof start for Peter Chase. Bowls a wide and a no ball in his very first over of the day. However, he managed to keep Shahzad quiet in the free hit delivery. 4 runs off the second over.

Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 9/0 | Overs 1 | Mohammad Shahzad 9(5), Javed Ahmadi 0(1): Murtagh opens bowling for Ireland, Shahzad faces the first delivery. The first ball goes for FOUR over mid-wicket. The next one goes beats the ‘keeper into fine leg fence. DOT. DOT. Now Shahzad comes forward clips it to square leg for ONE. Javed finally gets his first ball, DOT. Shahzad on strike next over.

Playing XI:

Ireland: William Porterfield(c), Paul Stirling, John Anderson, Ed Joyce, Kevin O’Brien, Stuart Poynter(wk), Andy McBrine, George Dockrell, Barry McCarthy, Peter Chase, Tim Murtagh

Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai(c), Mohammad Shahzad(wk), Mirwais Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Najibullah Zadran, Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Shapoor Zadran

Toss: Ireland win toss, opt to field!

Afghanistan continue on their tour of Europe where they next play Ireland after winning the two-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Scotland. After a frustrating rain abandoned the first match of the series without a ball being bowled, Ireland and Afghanistan will be sweating it out to take a lead in the five-match series at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast.  This will be Ireland’s second home series after they hosted a short series against Sri Lanka. They will like hope to win this and restore the faith of their fans. The series is all up for grabs for both the teams, who are usually tagged as minnows but have caused a few hiccups against some big teams in the past. IRE vs AFG 2016, 2nd ODI at Belfast: Predictions & Preview

Afghanistan have won three ODI series on trot. They definitely want to compete with big teams and their playing style proves it. Visitors’ hunger for success has contributed to their recent success. For Ireland, nothing went right in the series against Sri Lanka. Skipper, William Porterfield, Kevin O’ Brien, Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and Stuart Poynter will like to take maximum responsibility with the willow and contribute for the team.

Squads:

Ireland: Max Sorensen, John Anderson, William Porterfield (c), George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Stuart Poynter, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson (wk).

Afghanistan: 
Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Javed Ahmadi, Asghar Stanikzai (c), Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Amir Hamza Hotak, Yamin Ahmadzai.

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