Twitter Reactions: Gurbaz's magical debut, Rashid's all-round performance guide Afghanistan to an exciting win over Ireland
Ireland had their moments but losing wickets at the worst moments of the game meant that they fell short by 16 runs in the end.
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A glitzy run-a-ball 127 by debutant Rahmanullah Gurbaz and the all-round effort of Rashid Khan became the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s 16-run victory against Ireland in the three-match series. After hosts Afghanistan elected to bat first at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, it was sheer hard work for Andy Balbirnie’s men until the 22nd over as centurion Gurbaz added 120 runs for the first wicket alongside Javed Ahmadi, providing Afghanistan a solid platform. It was an ill-executed slog from Ahmadi, at 38 off 55, off Andy McBrine that brought the first breakthrough for Ireland.
One strike brought too many for McBrine as Rahmat Shah picked McCarthy at backward square leg to set a collapse in motion. Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, and Gulbadin Naib were all removed for single-digit scores by McBrine, as they kept finding Kevin O’Brien placed at leg slip, falling in a similar fashion. It seemed that Afghanistan would squander their stupendous start after they were reduced to 161 for 5, however, Gurbaz, who stood unperturbed while wicket tumbled at the opposite end, found some company from Najibullah Zadran, who scored 29 from 43, during his 37-run partnership for the 6th wicket.
Gurbaz shines for Afghanistan
During the course of his century, Gurbaz named many firsts to himself: he recorded the highest individual score by a keeper on an ODI debut; became the first Afghanistan player to score a century on an ODI debut. Hitting 9 sixes – another record for an ODI debutant – in his 127-run knock, he reached the quickest half-century (38 balls) as an opener on ODI debut.
Playing his naturally aggressive game, Rashid Khan – who came in after Gurbaz holed out a nothing ball from Delany to Simi Singh at deep square leg – slammed 5 sixes and 2 fours in his 55 from just 30, eventually leading his team to a solid 287 for 9. Much to their dismay, Ireland was guilty of leaking 19 runs in extra, which, too, would prove fatal.
Ireland so close yet so far
Ireland had their moments and they looked being right on the track of chasing the target down. But losing wickets at the worst moments of the game meant that they fell short by 16 runs in the end. Naveen ul Haq made early inroads as he trapped Kevin O’Brien LBW for just 1, although his dismissal did not flinch Paul Stirling, who looked solid during his 39 from 40 including 6 fours.
Skipper Andy Balbirnie did not make his outing count as he became ul Haq’s second scalp, depositing the medium pacer to Rashid Khan to end his 18-ball outing. Harry Tector (28 from 37) then joined Stirling to add 50 from 63 for the fourth wicket in a phase that entirely belonged to Ireland. Although Rashid Khan ensured that things did not slip away from Afghanistan’s grip, trapping Stirling leg before wicket, only two balls after Gulbadin Naib removed Tector by completing a return catch.
An 86-run stand between Curtis Campher, who scored a sedate 39 from 53 with only two fours, and Lorcan Tucker, who hit three sixes and as many fours en route to his 96-ball 83, put Ireland in a commanding position again. However, Afghanistan yet again managed to claw their way back in as Mujeeb ur Rahman managed to remove Campher, pinning the talisman LBW after he missed to make contact with a length ball.
Simi Singh (23 from 20) stayed alongside Tucker for a brief while, adding 43 from 36, after Gareth Delany fell cheaply to Rashid Khan, however, a failed attempt of charging down the track against Mujeeb ur Rahman led Singh to be stumped by wicketkeeper Gurbaz. Ireland’s hopes were ended when Tucker used his feet against Rashid Khan, to be dismissed in a similar fashion – stumped – and even as Craig Young swung his bat hard, scoring 12 from 11, his team eventually fell short by 16 runs to give Afghanistan a 1-0 lead.
Here are the best tweets
💥 127 runs
💥 Eight fours, nine sixesRahmanullah Gurbaz, the first batsman from Afghanistan to score an ODI hundred on debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/poAz6D6bfK
— ICC (@ICC) January 21, 2021
Rahmanullah Gurbaz 127
– 1st to score 💯 on ODI debut for Afghanistan 🇦🇫
– 1st player born in 2000s to score a Men's ODI 💯
– 2nd highest score on Men's ODI debut
– 2nd youngest to score 💯on Men's ODI debut (19y & 54d)
– Most sixes on Men's ODI debut (9)#AFGvIRE @ACBofficials— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) January 21, 2021
Rahmanullah Gurbaz becomes first 21st century born cricketer to score a hundred in men's international cricket. And it has come on the 21st day of the 21st year of this century.#AFGvIRE
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) January 21, 2021
Youngest to score a century on ODI debut (Men/Women):
16y 205d – Mithali Raj vs IRE-W, 1999
18y 312d – Saleem Elahi vs SL, 1995
19y 54d – RAHMANULLAH GURBAZGurbaz's 7 sixes till now are the most by any player on ODI debut. (Prev: 5 sixes by NS Sidhu in 1987 CWC) #AFGvIRE
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 21, 2021
Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit 9 sixes on his One Day International Debut.
No one has ever hit more than 5 sixes on his/her ODI debut.
His innings of 127 runs is also the Highest by any WK on debut.#AFGvIRE
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) January 21, 2021
It's a brilliant century on ODI debut for Rahmanullah Gurbaz! 💯🇦🇫
The @ACBofficials opening batsman has been outstanding this morning at #AbuDhabiCricket 🙌#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/tH3sEgxvsF
— Abu Dhabi Cricket (@AbuDhabiCricket) January 21, 2021
That's one way to announce yourself on to the international stage 👏#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/KWMJlpnBHL
— ICC (@ICC) January 21, 2021
Today's #AFGvIRE match is the first ever ODI match with all 100 overs being bowled and all 22 players off the mark. pic.twitter.com/SX0p06Osk2
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) January 21, 2021
Rahmatullah Gurbaz who became Afghanistan ODI Cap #50, becomes the 50th opener to score 50+ runs on ODI debut. #AFGvIRE
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) January 21, 2021
Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit 9 sixes on his One Day International Debut.
No one has ever hit more than 5 sixes on his/her ODI debut.
His innings of 127 runs is also the Highest by any WK on debut.#AFGvIRE
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) January 21, 2021
Hundred and MOM in his ODI debut. Just a @RGurbaz_21 thing 🔥 #AFGvIRE #TuskerInCharge pic.twitter.com/jwKWOi8epl
— Kandy Tuskers (@KandyLPL) January 21, 2021
Excellent innings of 83 from Lorcan Tucker. Ballsy effort to recover from a difficult day behind the sticks. Gave Ireland a shot at an unlikely win but they finished 16 short of Afghanistan's 287/9#AFGvIRE
— Peter O'Reilly (@petersuntimes) January 21, 2021
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