Afghanistan secures the three-match T20I series against the hosts Ireland by leading the series in 2-0 after thrashing them in the second T20I by 81 runs at Bready. Earlier, Afghanistan beat the host by 16 runs in the first T20I of the series.

In the second T20I, Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan decided to bat first after winning the toss. After losing their opener Mohammad Shahzad (1) and the no.3 batsman Samiullah Shenwari (1) at very early, another opener Hazratullah Zazai and the skipper Asghar Afghan carried the innings with a brilliant 116-run partnership for the third wicket.

While Zazai scored 82 runs off 54 balls (6 fours and 7 sixes), skipper Afghan scored 37 runs off 34 balls (2 fours and 2 sixes). In the end, Najibullah Zadran played a cameo unbeaten knock of 20 runs off just 10 balls (2 fours and only six) that helped the team to score 160/8 (20 overs).

Irish pacer Peter Chase (3/35) picked up three wickets while Boyd Rankin (2/14) scalped two wickets and Simi Singh (1/23), Joshua Little (1/48) and George Dockrell (1/19) got one wicket each.

Chasing down the target, the hosts faced a huge batting collapsed that forced them to bundle up for just 79 runs in 15 overs. Only William Porterfield (33) and the skipper Gary Wilson (22) managed to score the double-figures in that innings.

Afghan spinners played the massive role for Afghanistan’s big 81-run victory in this T20I game. Rashid Khan (4/17) picked up four wickets while Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3/17) got three wickets in that innings. Moreover, Aftab Alam (1/7), Fareed Ahmed (1/19) and Mohammad Nabi (1/19) claimed one wicket each.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan – 160/8 in 20 overs (Hazratullah Zazai 82, Asghar Afghan 37; Peter Chase 3/35)

Ireland – 79 in 15 overs (William Porterfield 33, Gary Wilson 22; Rashid Khan 4/17)

Result – Afghanistan won by 81 runs

Important stats highlights of the match:

• Afghanistan opening batsman Hazratullah Zazai scored 82 runs which is the third highest T20I knock by an Afghanistan batsman against Ireland.
• Afghanistan batsmen Hazratullah Zazai and the skipper Asghar Afghan put a crucial 116-run partnership for the third wicket. It is their highest ever T20I partnership as the previous record was 110 runs between Mohammad Shahzad and Asghar Afghan for the second wicket against Scotland at Edinburgh on July 12, 2015.
• Ireland was bundled out for just 79 runs. It is their second lowest completed T20I total against Afghanistan while the lowest one is just 71 (13.2 overs) at Dubai (DSC) on January 20, 2017. In overall, it was Ireland’s fourth-lowest completed T20I total.
• Afghanistan won this T20I by 81 runs. It was their largest T20I victory (by runs) against Ireland as the previous record was winning by 28 runs at Greater Noida on March 12, 2017. In overall, it was Afghanistan’s joint second largest T20I victory (by runs). Their largest T20I victory (by runs) is winning by 106 runs against Kenya at Sharjah on September 30, 2013.