The Afghanistan cricket team are currently playing a five-match ODI series against Ireland at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Dehradun, Uttrakhand. The two sides recently played in a three-match T20I series, which Afghanistan won 3-0 including a record-breaking match, where Hazratullah Zazai played a record-breaking knock of 162*.
After trailing 1-0 in the ODI series, Ireland finally managed to register a win in the third ODI match. On the back of 104* by Najibullah Zadran and 75 from captain Asghar Afghan, Afghanistan team had put up a fighting total of 256/8 in 50 overs. Apart from these two, Hazratullah Zazai amassed 34 as the other batsmen failed to give a fight to Irish bowlers with Boyd Rankin picking 2/56 and Tim Murtagh picking 2/60.
Afghanistan bowlers kept the team in the game as they kept on picking the wickets in regular intervals. But Andy Balbirnie kept his cool and with help of George Dockrell’s 54, took Ireland to a 4-wicket win and tie the series 1-1. Balbirnie slammed an unbeaten 145 with 8 sixes and 8 fours.
WATCH – Mohammad Shahzad Imitates MS Dhoni
Afghanistan wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahzad might be of the most unfit cricketers doing rounds currently, but when it comes to punishing the ball, Shahzad gives it a mighty heave, an example of which he gave against Indian team in last year’s Asia Cup, when he slammed a brilliant century.
More so, Shahzad has been brilliant behind the stumps despite his heavy physique and has shown amazing reflexes behind the wickets similar to his idol MS Dhoni, especially off spinners. During the match, Balbirnie and George Dockrell were taking the game away from Afghans. Mohammad Nabi bowled one ball flat outside off stump, as the latter charged at him.
Dockrell tried to defend the ball, which whizzed past his defense and made its way towards Shahzad. Shahzad channeled his inner MS Dhoni and showed amazing reflexes with the gloves, to collect the ball and whip the bails off before Dockrell could regain his ground.
Here is the video of Shahzad’s amazing stumping:
