Twitter Reactions: Afghanistan draws the first blood in the T20I series against Ireland

Afghanistan’s ascent in international cricket is continuing. The team is touring Ireland for a 3-match T20I series which will be followed by 3 ODIs. The first T20I between these two sides was played at the Bready Cricket Club in Northern Ireland. The visitors managed to draw the first blood in the series by winning the first T20I by 16 runs.

With this win, Afghanistan has won all the 6 T20Is they played this year making it a 100 per cent record thus far. The match was reduced the 18-overs per side after the start was delayed to rain. In this shortened game, Ireland had the advantage as they won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Hazratullah Zazai sets the stage on fire

Usually, we expect Mohammad Shahzad to provide the Afghanistan team with some aggressive start to the innings. However, it was someone else who did this job this time around. Hazratullah Zazai, who was playing just his 2nd T20I opened the innings for the Afghans and played some glorious shots. He faced 33 balls out of the first 44 balls in the innings and scored 74 runs in as many deliveries. He hit 8 fours and 6 sixes in this while.

But, as soon as he got out in the 8th over, Afghanistan’s innings only went down the hill. Shahzad was run out after he scored 29 off 21 balls. Also, skipper Stanikzai couldn’t capitalise on the start and got out for 31 runs. Ireland bowlers kept chipping in with regular wickets and Afghanistan would have been utterly disappointed with their performance in the last few only. They only scored 10 runs in the last 3 overs and lost 4 wickets thus ending up with 160 runs on the board.

Rashid-Mujeeb duo does the job for Afghanistan

Going into the second innings, the momentum was on Ireland’s side having made such a good come back in the first innings. However, the biggest threat for them lied in the form of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. They had to deal well against these two if they were to win the game. However, that wasn’t to be the case as Mujeeb picked two wickets in his first two overs sending Stuart Thompson and William Porterfield back.

Although the Irish batsmen went hard after Rashid Khan, they couldn’t restrict him from picking wickets. Even though the leg-spinner gave away 35 runs in his 4 overs, he picked three crucial wickets putting breaks on the scoring rates. Aftab Alam also joined in with two wickets while Fareed Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi picked one wicket each. Afghanistan won the game by 16 runs thus taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Twitterati was happy to see Rashid and Mujeeb back in the Afghan colours and doing well. They also praised Zazai for his blistering innings. Aftab Alam plucked an unbelievable catch and quite a few talks also surrounded him. The tweeple also lashed out at Shahzad for his fitness levels and his poor running between the wickets.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

Hazratullah Zazai 50 off 22 balls has just scored the joint 2nd-fastest 50 for Afghanistan in T20Is.

Fastest: 21 balls – Mohammad Nabi vs IRE, 2017 #IREvAFG

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) August 20, 2018

Stunning power hitting by Afghanistan at the stunning Bready Cricket Ground #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/18BJpR438n

— Bazid Khan (@bazidkhan81) August 20, 2018

5 wickets for 8 runs off the last 14 balls for Afghan….not the way to end an innings… #irevafg

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) August 20, 2018

Meanwhile, Hazratullah Zaza has scored a fifty in just 22 balls! #IREvAFG

— Arjun (@Kohlified) August 20, 2018

Is there anything this man cannot do? 😲 Take a bow, @rashidkhan_19 👏👏👏 https://t.co/shLwU3gPxj

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) August 20, 2018

Afghanistan young opener Zazai impressed one and all with his big hitting prowess in the 1st t20 v Ireland, smacking 74 of 33 balls with 8 fours & 6 sixes. Afghanistan made 160 of 18 overs & won the match by 16 runs. Afghan spinners, Rashid Khan, Nabi & Mujibur Rehman doing well

— Ram (@ram574) August 21, 2018

It was a wonderful match!Stars of d match 4 me:
1: @zazai_3 Amazing batting 74 runs/33 balls
2: @aftabalam55786 What a catch & got 2 wickets!
3: @mujeeb 2 wickets!
4: @rashidkhan_19 Always our champ with his 3 wickets!& also everyone did a great job tonight! #AFGvIRE #WeWon🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/mKOB8aem6l

— Zahid Stanikzai (@ZeeKhan333) August 20, 2018

nice bowling by all Afghanistan bowlers. @rashidkhan_19 @MohammadNabi007 👍 pic.twitter.com/MkN7kcJGhx

— Akshay Kumar Malviya (@Akshaymalviyaa1) August 20, 2018