Twitter Reactions: Rashid Khan and Asghar Stanikzai power Afghanistan to a 2-0 lead

By Aakash Sivasubramaniam

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Rashid Khan
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Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The second One Day International between Afghanistan and Ireland turned out to be another high-scoring thriller. 642 runs were scored between the two teams on the hot and sunny day at Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground. The Tigers’ emerged as the winner once again to secure a victory and lead the series 2-0 against the Irish.

Earlier in the day, captain Stanikzai won the toss and elected to bat on a dry and humid condition. Afghanistan’s openers Mohammad Shahzad and Noor Ali Zadran got the Tigers’ off to a fantastic start by scoring 90 runs for the first wicket partnership. The openers were dismissed in the span of 4 runs which led to a mini-crisis.

Out came captain Asghar Stanikzai and Rahmat Shah who motored the Tigers’ to another 96-run partnership before the latter got out to the young George Dockrell. Tigers’ captain exploded in the 71-run partnership with Samiullah Shenwari to help the team reach 263 in just the 42nd over of the innings.

Stanikzai completed his maiden ODI century off just 88 balls with 6 sixes and 6 boundaries to his name. A late effort from Shafiqullah meant that the Irish batsmen were chasing 339 runs for victory.

Afghanistan’s total of 338 was also their highest in One Day Internationals. Paul Stirling was the shining light of the other-wise dim bowling unit of Ireland, picking up career-best six wickets for just 55 runs. It was also the best bowling figures for Ireland in ODIs.

The total was a mammoth one, and Ireland got off to the best of starts with 113 run opening partnership between Ed Joyce and Paul Stirling. Joyce’s dismissal at 55 was a jolt that the Tigers’ were hopeful of.

Stirling was dismissed five short of a well-deserved century by a straighter one from vice-captain Rashid Khan. Porterfield followed suit by mistiming a shot straight into the hands of Mohammad Nabi off Rashid’s bowling.

Thompson’s cameo of 37 from 25 balls was not enough to lead the Irish side over the line. Rashid finished off brightly with six wickets in the innings and 20 wickets in the T20I and ODI Series against Ireland. Afghanistan won the match by a decent margin of 34 runs in the run-feast game.

Paul Stirling was declared the man of the match for his 6/55 runs and his batting display of 95 runs off just 80 balls. Twitter was all praise for Afghan players who showed some great form throughout the series.

Here are some of the Twitter reactions that took place during the game

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