DEHRADUN, India — Rashid Khan claimed a hat trick to help Afghanistan to a 3-0 series sweep over Ireland after its convincing 32-run victory in the third Twenty20 International Sunday.
Khan returned impressive figures of 5-27 to keep Ireland down to 178-8 in their chase of 211 in the north Indian city of Dehradun.
Mohammad Nabi hit 81 off 36 deliveries in Afghanistan’s 210-7 after being put into bat first on a ground where it posted a T20 International record of 278-3 in the previous match.
Kevin O’Brien and Andy Balbirnie, who made 47, then put on a threatening 96-run second wicket stand to raise hopes of a successful chase but Khan hit back with his leg spin.
He got O’Brien caught behind for 74 but it was the 18th over when the world’s top T20 bowler became the first spinner in the format to take a hat trick.
Khan got George Dockrell, Shane Getkate and Simi Singh on consecutive deliveries to shut the door on Ireland.
Earlier, Nabi demolished the Irish bowling attack as he smashed 6 fours and 7 sixes, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground.
Ireland paceman Boyd Rankin took three wickets but gave away 53 runs in his four overs.
The two teams will now play five One-Day Internationals starting Thursday followed by a one-off Test at the same venue, which is Afghanistan’s adopted home ground. — AFP
Afghanistan
H. Zazai c Stirling b Rankin 31
U. Ghani lbw b Rankin 13
N. Tarakai c Balbirnie b Dockrell 17
A. Afghan c Thompson b Getkate 20
M. Nabi c Balbirnie b Chase 81
N. Zadran run out (Dockrell) 12
S. Shafiq c Thompson b Rankin 12
R. Khan not out 07
S. Ashraf not out 03
Extras (lb6, w8) 14
Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 210
Falls: 1-46 (Ghani), 2-57 (Zazai), 3-67 (Tarakai), 4-107 (Afghan), 5-143 (Zadran), 6-191 (Nabi), 7-202 (Shafiq).
Did not bat: S. Shirzad, Z. Rahman.
Bowling: Singh 1-0-5-0, Rankin 4-0-53-3, Chase 4-0-38-1, Little 3-0-45-0, Thompson 2-0-16-0, Dockrell 4-0-26-1, Getkate 2-0-21-1.
Ireland
P. Stirling c Afghan b Rahman 10
K. O Brien c Shafiq b Khan 74
A. Balbirnie b Rahman 47
S. Thompson run out (Najibullah) 01
G. Dockrell c Nabi b Khan 18
S. Getkate st Shafiq b Khan 02
S. Poynter not out 10
S. Singh lbw b Rashid Khan 00
J. Little b Khan 06
B. Rankin not out 02
Extras (w8) 08
Total (8 wkts, 20 overs) 178
Falls: 1-32 (Stirling), 2-128 (Balbirnie), 3-129 (Thompson), 4-153 (O Brien), 5-158 (Dockrell), 6-158 (Getjate), 7-158 (Singh), 8-175 (Little).
Did not bat: P. Chase.
Bowling: Rahman 4-0-42-2 (w2), Shirzad 4-0-42-0, Ashraf 4-0-39-0 (w1), Nabi 4-0-28-0, Khan 4-0-27-5 (w5).