It was a match, which could have been on Ireland’s side. The team was chasing the target of 293 in a healthy game reaching 206 with eight wickets in hand. They had 14 overs to pull up the game, requiring less than 100 runs. However, as the third wicket broke out, the team’s chase plummeted to 262 for all 10 wickets. Ireland lost to Afghanistan. It was the first match of the five-match series, held in Greater Noida. The top bowlers in the team were Rashid Khan, who toppled four wickets. The 18 years old young player also removed Niall O’Brien, after which the slog began.

Another bowler, Dawlat Zadran was successful to remove William Porterfield. It was the turning point of the match because Porterfield was the top batsman on the chase, scoring 119 runs. Ireland was strong in the first 19 overs of the match. Rashid did not find and success in the stretch, along with other bowlers. The flow of runs was not restricted. This made the skipper to change his plan and employ other bowlers on attack. Rashid came back to bowl in the 29th over. This time, he struck in the first over. In the next over, Dawlat took down two wickets. It was the crucial number of Porterfield. The other wicket he took was of Wilson. This wobble brought back Afghanistan’s confidence to strike stronger.

The middle order and the lower order rattled down as the quality of deliveries became better on the bowler’s end. Kevin O’Brien was stumped on a delivery from Amir Hamza. Rashid, meanwhile, was bowling with great composure in diverse styles like googly. Tim Murtagh and George Dockrell fell on his trap losing their wickets. For Ireland, the last round of showmanship was from Porterfield and Stirling. They were gradually moving forwards taking singles. Porterfield displayed an excellent shot selection thriving on the slow pitch.