Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket Ireland summarised things well after the 1st T20I.
Ireland suffered an absolute onslaught in the first half of their bowling effort on Monday, which in the end was the catalyst to their fifth loss in seven T20Is this year. Skipper Gary Wilson and co probably had nightmares of Nazratullah Zazai blasting the bowlers to all parts of the ground, which turned out to be such a significant factor in the result.
However, what will give Ireland hope in their attempt to level the series was the lack of form of the other Afghanistan batsmen – only Mohammad Shahzad and Asghar Afghan Stanikzai reached double figures. Can Ireland’s bowlers avoid serious onslaughts and also handle Afghanistan’s spinners a lot better?
Afghanistan continued their perfect run in T20Is in 2018, picking up their sixth win in six attempts on Monday. What was most pleasing was the form of 20-year old Nazratullah Zazai, as well as their ability to bowl well in conditions alien to them. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan picked up five wickets between them on Monday – will they be too strong for Ireland again? Who else will step up with the bat? With the series on the line for Ireland, these are important questions for Afghanistan.
Key to an Ireland win
Despite their fightback with the ball, 160 in 18 overs was always going to be a tricky chase for the Irish against a good Afghanistan bowling attack.
18-year old Josh Little, in just his third T20I match, led the way beautifully for Ireland with 2/20, backed up well by Simi Singh (1/27) and Peter Chase (1/29). However, in this must-win game, all of Ireland’s bowling resources have to provide results for the team – Afghanistan’s batting wilted in the second half of their innings, so Ireland have to believe they can get early wickets, which can expose Afghanistan’s middle order which simply didn’t finish well in the 1st T20I.
Also, with the bat, can Ireland rotate the strike better? There were plenty of big shots attempted, which resulted in wickets falling at regular intervals. The likes of Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson and Simi Singh looked good, but against a good spin attack, the Irish need to keep busy and give themselves the best possible chance of victory with runs on the board.
Key to an Afghanistan win
How good was Nazratullah Zazai? His 33-ball 74 was the key difference between the two sides, but Afghanistan need to guard against another poor finish with the bat.
Flying at 119/1 after 10.5 overs, Afghanistan had 200 in their sights, but knocked off just nine runs in the last three overs to finish with 160. Mohammad Shahzad and Asghar Afghan Stanikzai threatened with starts, but other than that, there was very little to write home about. In this match, more partnerships are required, because what happens if the top three, who scored 84% of the runs on Monday, fall cheaply?
Also, all five bowlers were in the act in the 1st T20I, each picking up at least a wicket. They have great know-how in this format, and against a side struggling with the bat, Afghanistan will sure to be banking more on their bowlers to get the job done.
Possible teams
Tyrone Kane was very expensive in the 1st T20I, going for 50 in his four overs. It remains to be seen whether he gets another chance. The failed experiment of Stuart Thompson as opener probably won’t be repeated. Also, more is expected from the likes of Kevin O’Brien and George Dockrell to support the encouraging efforts of the likes of Little, Chase and Singh.
Ireland possible XI: 1. Paul Stirling, 2. William Porterfield, 3. Andy Balbirnie, 4. Kevin O’Brien, 5. Gary Wilson (c & wk), 6. Simi Singh, 7. Stuart Thompson, 8. George Dockrell, 9. Josh Little, 10. Tyrone Kane, 11. Peter Chase
For Afghanistan, why not stick with the same combination? Any experimentation will probably be saved for if the series is won in this match.
Afghanistan possible XI: 1. Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2. Nazratullah Zazai, 3. Asghar Afghan (c), 4. Najibullah Zadran, 5. Mohammad Nabi, 6. Samiullah Shenwari, 7. Usman Ghani, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Aftab Alam, 10. Fareed Ahmad, 11. Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Stats and Facts
- When Nazratullah Zazai reached fifty in the 1st T20I, his opening partner Mohammad Shahzad was on 4.
- Afghanistan are looking for their seventh win in seven T20Is in 2018.
- Ireland have won just one of seven T20Is in 2018.
Prediction
I backed Ireland for an upset in the 1st T20I, and they could very well possibly achieve victory in this game.
They fought back well, but Afghanistan’s players who weren’t quite up to the mark on Monday have it in them to cause damage. Afghanistan to take the series out in a close one…
