Fifties from Balbirnie and Tucker guides Ireland to a thrilling 7-wicket victory

Belfast – Ireland fought on for a gripping seven-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the first Twenty20 International, sealing the victory with a ball to remain. While chasing of 169, Lorcan Tucker and Andrew Balbirnie blasted quick half-centuries with cameos of Harry Tector (25* off 15) and George Dockrell (10* off 5) led to victory for Ireland.

Afghanistan after winning the toss and decided to bat first, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz hammering 3 boundaries off Andrew McBrine's 4th over to get the visitors moving forward. In the next over, Gubraz departs for 26 smashing a McCarthy delivery at mid-off and caught by Harry Tector. Usman Ghani and Hashmatullah Shahidi shoved the blow aside to keep the momentum going, forming a partnership that helped Afghanistan reach 75-1 after 9 overs. Dockrell's arrival into the attack was a crucial call from the skipper Balbirnie; the left-hander forced Shahidi to top-edge a ball comfortably into the hands of Paul Stirling at short fine leg for 11.

Ghani reached his fourth T20I fifty, helping Afghanistan to surpass 100, but spin offered another breakthrough - Gareth Delany picks the wicket in the final delivery of the 14th over, with Najibullah Zadran top-edging the leg-spinner to McBrine at backward point. 

The wicket triggered a collapse in Afghanistan's middle order, with four wickets falling in four overs, leaving the visitors 134-6 after 17 overs. McCarthy dismissed Rashid Khan for 2 in the last over, but Mark Adair took some assault from Ibrahim Zadran in the last over, giving up 16 runs off three consecutive deliveries as Afghanistan finishes on 168-7.

Balbirnie looked impressive from the start, swivelling Farooqi off the fourth ball of the 3rd over to bring the score to 19 off 10 balls.Paul Stirling, playing his 300th T20, started cautiously, ignoring a Naveen-ul-Haq maiden in the powerplay. But he soon found his form, slamming Azmatullah and Naveen for sixes as Ireland races to fifty inside the powerplay. 

Stirling fell for 31 to Mohammad Nabi, but Ireland stayed in commanding postion: Tucker and Balbirnie accelerated, with the latter completing his half-century in 34 balls. Player of the Match Balbirnie then sliced Mujeeb Ur Rahman straight to Najibullah in the deep to leave Ireland chasing 41 from the final four overs.

Tucker completed his half-century in 31 balls, but Naveen dismissed him at the end of the 18th over, putting Ireland in a trouble. However, after a poor start, Harry Tector blasted a vital six off Farooqi in the final over, sending the ball over deep midwicket, leaving 13 required from the final over.Tector's boundary relieved some of the pressure, and Dockrell's cameo finishes the match, hitting consecutive boundaries to secure a dramatic triumph.

Match Summary: Afghanistan 168-7 (20 overs; U Ghani 59, I Zadran 29*; B McCarthy 3-24) lost to Ireland 171-3 (19.5 overs; A Balbirnie 51, L Tucker 50; M Ur Rahman 1-22) by seven wickets