Twitter Reactions: Magical Mujeeb takes down Ireland in Dehradun

Paul Stirling was the only positive in Ireland's batting performance.

Published - 28 Feb 2019, 20:18 IST | Updated - 28 Feb 2019, 20:18 IST

View : 1.9K

2 Min Read

After whitewashing Ireland in the three-match T20I series, Afghanistan made a resounding start to the five-match ODI series as well. The home team, captained by the enigmatic Asghar Afghan, won by five wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The game at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun turned out to be a low-scoring affair where the bowlers stamped their authority.

Stirling stands tall

Ireland’s decision to bat first backfired miserably on them as they were bundled out for 161 in 49.2 overs. Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman brushed off the Irish top-order, including the likes of William Porterfield, Andy Balbirnie and debutant James McCollum. At one point in time, the visiting team was reduced to 6/69 in 30.2 overs. At the other end, Paul Stirling didn’t throw his wicket away.

The opener took his time and accomplished a hard-fought half-century in 105 balls. He also cobbled together a useful partnership of 76 runs with George Dockrell, who contributed with 37 runs with three fours and a six. Meanwhile, Stirling played until the very last over and notched 89 runs from 150 balls with six fours and three sixes. Apart from Mujeeb, speedster Dawlat Zadran also got three wickets.

Afghanistan canter home

Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai didn’t go hammer and tongs and put on 43 runs in 75 deliveries to kick-start Afghanistan’s run-chase. Pacer Brian McCarthy broke the stand, picking up Zazai for 25 runs. Rahmat Shah joined Shahzad and added 47 runs for the second wicket. However, the tall and lanky Boyd Rankin came to the party and nipped out both Shah and Shahzad in consecutive overs.

Shahzad churned out a handy 43 runs from 53 balls with six boundaries. Simi Singh got rid of Hashmatullah Shahidi. Gulbadin Naib took his time initially, but he pressed the accelerator as his innings progressed. He scored 46 runs before being dismissed by spinner George Dockrell. Najibullah Zadran found the boundaries a couple of times to take the Afghans over the line with 49 balls to spare.

Here is how Twitter reacted

Provided the initial breakthroughs and bowled an incredible spell with an economy rate of 1.40 😲
Vaddiya performance, @Mujeeb_R88 🇦🇫#LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #SaddaSquad #AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/LVWdN8WbDt
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) February 28, 2019

A real squeaker on a Dehradun track that no-one found it easy to score on, but Gulbadin found a way and saw Afghanistan home by 5 wickets.
Excellent work by the spinners on both sides:
🇦🇫 Mujeeb 10-3-14-3
🇦🇫 Rashid Khan 10-0-30-1
☘️ Simi Singh 10-1-19-1#AFGvIRE 🏏🇦🇫☘️
— Guerilla Cricket (@guerillacricket) February 28, 2019

Afghanistan won the 1st odi by 5 wickets congratulations to afghans brothers #AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/z06Pydy4En
— CRICKET LOVE (@CricketMyLove_) February 28, 2019

Najibullah Zadran finished it off with a 6⃣
Afghanistan win by 5 Wickets and lead the series 1-0, they're way ahead of all other low ranked teams and proving that again and again #AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/HN2AKxZMVx
— Talk Cricket (@TheYorkerBall) February 28, 2019

Afghanistan beat Ireland by 5 wickets in the first Odi match of the series and lead the five match series 1-0.#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/G8dczyd3mF
— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) February 28, 2019

Is #asgharAfgan playing test cricket ? 😂😂😂😂😂#AFGvIRE #IREvAFG
— Suresh K Solanki 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@thesolankimj) February 28, 2019

Wow, successive winnings, once again congratulations #BlueTigers.#Afghanistan won 1st #ODI match from IR. #AfvsIR @ACBofficials @Mujeeb_R88 @dawlat_zadarn @zazai_3 @rashidkhan_19 @MohammadNabi007 https://t.co/C8H2ilyRYQ
— Aziz Rahman Hamidi (@ahamidi1989) February 28, 2019

Congratulations for the win of AFG VS IRE 1st ODI
3 Wicket's by @dawlat_zadarn after long time come bake wlc…
3 Wicket's by @Mujeeb_R88
Finish by birthday boy @iamnajibzadran
Rest of all well played#proud_on_blue_tigers 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/M6978jw3m3
— Jawad Jawad (@Jawad_Jawad_) February 28, 2019

Most ODI Wickets for Afghanistan
119 Rashid Khan
115 Mohammad Nabi
101 Dawlat Zardan
56 Hamid Hassan
47 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
4 of them are played together today
— Merin Kumar ™ (@merin_kumar) February 28, 2019