Afghanistan win 3rd T20I by 22 runs to keep series vs Ireland alive

Irelands middleorder batter George Dockrell struck his maiden T20I halfcentury but the hosts still ended up losing the third game by 22 runs as Afghanistan clawed back after two successive defeats to finally taste success in the fivematch series on Saturday ISTThe touring sides top four batters delivered to put up a strong total of 1895 and Ireland were quickly reduced to 364 in their run chaseThe hosts looked down and out at 857 in the 13th over but Dockrell 58 not out off 37 balls and debutant Fionn Hand 36 off 18 kept Irelands hopes alive with an eighthwicket partnership worth 74 just six runs short of a worldrecord eighth wicket stand in T20I cricket according to Cricket Ireland In the end though Afghanistan held on to celebrate their first win of the series to make it 12 after three gamesAfghanistan were quick to put aside a difficult performance with the bat in the second T20I 11 runs from Mark Adairs opening over set the base for a 90run opening partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah ZazaiGurbaz was the more expansive presence at the top of the order hitting eight fours and a six on his way to a 31ball halfcentury the landmark reached from the final ball of the 10th overAlso Read Glenn Phillips powers NZ to T20I series win over WIIreland were finally able to celebrate in the 12th over when Gurbaz slashed hard at Josh Little the ball met the edge of the bat ballooning up high and eventually into the safe hands of Adair at short third man A couple of overs later Hand was able to celebrate his first international wicket with Zazai finding Paul Stirling at short third who took a fine tumbling catch low to his rightBut the loss of the openers didnt hinder Afghanistan with Ibrahim Zadran stepping up in an enterprising cameo He smashed a quickfire 36 before an attempted stroke down the legside saw him guide a Little delivery to the wicketkeeperSet a steep target of 190 Ireland were in trouble quickly in their chase losing Stirling for a duck in the first over the righthander couldnt take advantage of a full toss hitting Fazalhaq Farooqi to Usman Ghani at coverA couple of overs later Farooqi was celebrating the wicket of the other Irish opener Balbirnie also fell victim to a full toss slashing a wide delivery to backward point to depart for 1Brief scores Afghanistan 1895 in 20 overs R Gurbaz 53 N Zadran 42 J Little 229 beat Ireland 1679 in 20 overs G Dockrell 58 not out F Hand 36 F Farooqi 211 by 22 runsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever