We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report for Ireland vs Afghanistan Match at Belfast
The pitch at Belfast had carry and bounce for the pacers, but bowlers from either team did not bowl to their best and hence the batters found it easier to collect runs. The spinners, however, performed well to contain runs. The middle overs were when the runs gradually dried up.
Time: August 11, 8 PM IST
Probable Playing XI for Ireland & Afghanistan
Probable XI for Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little
Probable XI for Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Power Players
In his last five professional T20s, George Dockrell has the top scores of 69* and 43 and has bagged seven wickets. He was Ireland’s sixth bowler and yet managed two crucial wickets. He batted at No.5 when Afghanistan needed 23 off 12. He maintained his calm and scored 10 off 5 including two boundaries.
Usman Ghani likes feeding on the Irish bowlers: two of his four fifties have come against them. His recent form too has been excellent. In the Afghan T20 League, he hit 372 runs at an average of 41.
Lorcan Tucker scored his second fifty in three T20Is. More importantly, his brand of cricket was different in both innings. He went all guns blazing against South Africa and adapted a responsible approach against Ireland.
Smart Picks
Andie Balbirnie, after scoring only 46 runs in five T20Is, finally found his feet. His return to form will encourage both Afghanistan and fantasy players. He scored 51 off 38, his first fifty in nine innings against Afghanistan.
Barry McCarthy was the pick of the bowlers. He racked up three wickets, each of which came in the powerplay, middle overs and death. He has been the strike bowler every team hopes to have in their armoury.
Harry Tector knew what needed to be done. After losing two set batters at a crucial phase, he accelerated the run rate with timely boundaries and quick running between the wicket, remaining unbeaten on 25 off 15. His recent form seems to be peaking after the hot-and-cold performances this year.
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Afghanistan squad for 20 World Cup 2022
Spinners dominate middle overs
The Afghan spin trio kept Ireland on their toes. Rashid Khan went wicketless, but as has been the case, he gave away a mere 25 runs in four overs. Mohammad Nabi took the all-important wicket of Paul Stirling at a critical juncture. Meanwhile, Mujeeb Ur Rehman kept things tight in the powerplay and then dismissed Balbirnie just before the death overs.
Gareth Delany has taken five wickets in the last three T20Is. He was economical in the middle overs, while Dockrell’s two wickets came in two overs.
Ireland vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Match Preview
Ireland bowled well but gifted boundary balls at regular intervals. With the bat, they held their nerves, calculated the chase reasonably, and registered their first win after seven T20Is. Afghanistan, on the other hand, played impressively but in patches, indicating the lack of international cricket they have had this year. However, consistency has been Ireland’s big concern of late. They will have to work harder to keep emerging Afghanistan on the back foot.