Twitter Reactions: Mohammad Shahzad and Gulbadin Naib shine as Afghanistan register a big win against the Irish
They delivered a top-class batting and bowling performance in Belfast, which saw them finish the series on level terms eventually.
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The last performance for the Afghanistan side had to be a passing cloud considering the amount of quality existing in the side. They delivered a top-class batting and bowling performance in the second ODI against Ireland in Belfast, which saw them finish the series on level terms eventually.
Afghanistan got off to a flying start with Mohammad Shahzad striking the new ball around. Although he lost his partner Noor Ali Zadran early, Rahmat Shah stitched a fantastic partnership with the swashbuckling opener to help the side get into a dominant position. Shahzad completed a fifty in no time whilst Rahmat Shah kept playing the second fiddle.
With a single off Boyd Rankin in the 31st over, Shahzad completed his 6th ODI hundred. Their partnership accounted for 150 runs for the second wicket which came to the end in the 32nd over with Shahzad’s dismissal. In the same over, Rahmat Shah too was sent back, putting the visiting side in certain trouble.
Although some quick wickets fell, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Najibullah Zadran played a couple of brilliant hands to see them through to a big score. Shahidi scored 47 whilst Najibullah remained unbeaten on 60 off just 33 balls as Afghanistan finished with 305/7 in their 50 overs. Mark Adair picked up three wickets for the hosts.
Captain leads from the front with the ball
Paul Stirling had a fine summer thus far and continued his purple patch with another good knock. Although he compiled a decent 50 off 56 balls, he found no partner to stick around for a long time. The only decent partnership he had was with Andy Balbirnie, with whom he registered 48 runs for the third wicket.
Skipper Gulbadin Naib broke this partnership by removing both players in quick succession. His onslaught didn’t finish soon as he gave a very hard time for the Irish middle order. Although the likes of Gary Wilson and William Porterfield got starts, no one built on it to score big. Once they lost their fifth wicket in Porterfield, it was evident they were not going to last long.
Despite Gary Wilson batting till the end, Ireland could only manage 179 runs on the board in 41.2 overs. Gulbadin Naib was the star of the show, who returned with career-best figures of 6/43. Afghanistan will now be heading straight to Bristol, where they will be playing their first World Cup warm-up match against Pakistan.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
6 of the best today for @ACBofficials Skipper @GbNaib Gulbadin Naib today. #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/RFiZ9pmGc5
— Ian Johnston (@jontycricket) May 21, 2019
Wow! What! a day @GbNaib had tonight he becomes 2nd Afghan who got 5+ wickets in an ODI match. I was outside home as soon as I enter the home my 7 years old niece Fauzia told me " Uncle, Afghanistan won the match and Gulbadin Naib took 6 Wickets."
Afarin Atala 👏👍#AFGvsIRE https://t.co/DUHF4z7YRZ
— Naqeeb_____ قادري 🇦🇫 (@NaqeebSays) May 21, 2019
Congratulations the brilliant victory of Afghan national cricket team against ireland.i really appreciate the great bowling of Gulbadin Naib who got 6 wickets also I appreciate the great performance of Shahzad Mohammadi who scored 100 runs I am proud my heroes! pic.twitter.com/R7v6YbYt6H
— Jumakhan Hamdard. (@Jumakha68447861) May 21, 2019
This is #GulbadinNaib first odi victory as captain ….. Congrats !
— Usman Ahmad (@UsmanAhmad32) May 21, 2019
Mohammad Shahzad hit an 87-ball century as #Afghanistan beat #Ireland by 126 runs to draw their two-game #ODI series in Belfast. pic.twitter.com/lJlE6zZEPW@ACBofficials @rashidkhan_19 @DrOmarZakhilwal @IdreesZaman pic.twitter.com/3WmHoOaiiX
— Sharif Shagiwal (@sharifShagiwal) May 22, 2019
@ACBofficials "I can hear you in Kabul!" Well done Mohammad Shahzad as he scores a century against Ireland.
Pics from the match in the ball-by ball commentary on https://t.co/3Zy0Izw89k – full gallery from the game on later tonight. #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/2X4Iq3ydak— Ian Johnston (@jontycricket) May 21, 2019
top innings by Mohammad Shahzad. outstanding hundred 💯 once again from Afghanistan opener @MShahzad077 👏. #IREvAFG #2ndODI
— Tanuj Singh (@TanujSi47701251) May 21, 2019
As I said that when Shahzad bat well then all our batsmen will bat well!!!
Our best opener in #ODI cricket!!! So happy for his 5th ODI 💯!!! & congrats champ brother! Go & make this one ur biggest individual ODI score!!! 🤞🏻
Way to go hero!!!👏🏻#AFGvIRE #IREvAFG #MohammadShahzad https://t.co/AuzI44r422— Lamia Karimi (@lamia_karimi) May 21, 2019
Centuryyyyy🇦🇫👏🏻
What an innings and yet more come🙌#AFGHvsIRE #MohammadShahzad pic.twitter.com/NUQBNDhqoG— Ebad Safi (@DocSafi_) May 21, 2019
Best bowling figures for Afghanistan in ODIs:
7/18: Rashid Khan v West Indies in St. Lucia, 2017
6/43: Rashid Khan v Ireland in Greater Noida, 2017
6/43: Gulbadin Naib v Ireland in Belfast, 2019 👏 pic.twitter.com/grBmQEBwov— Faridullah Mohammadi (@FaridullahMoha1) May 22, 2019
very well done captain keeps going many more to come 🤲🤲💪💪🇦🇫🇦🇫@gulbadinnaib pic.twitter.com/SFouKj9X70
— Wajid Adil (@WajidAdil6) May 21, 2019
Shehzad, Hashmatullah , Najibullah has to play a big part in the batting department at the showpiece event #cwc19 #IrevAfg
— Usman Ahmad (@UsmanAhmad32) May 21, 2019
First ever ODI win for Afghanistan when Rashid Khan played but went wicketless!#IREvAFG
— Kausthub45 (@kauSTats) May 21, 2019
Paul Stirling becomes the first Irishman in history to register four consecutive ODI 50s. It's the 89th occurrence in ODI history and the third in 2019 (following de Kock and du Plessis) #IREvAFG
— Aaron Murphy (@AaronMurphyFS) May 21, 2019
Not quite @andrewnixon79 level, but still – not the worst night here #SCOvSL #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/UTVPzmEvaR
— Tim Cutler (@timcutler) May 21, 2019
Fearless!
Top knock from Shahzad. An astounding ton off 85 balls. Big positive for @ACBofficials before the #CWC19.#IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/KhOzelkOEq
— Sparsh Telang (@_cricketsparsh) May 21, 2019
Shahzad following the celebration of @henrygayle after completing the hundred against Ireland in the second Odi. #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/M7P2MCksv8
— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) May 21, 2019
Most centuries for #Afghanistan in #International #Cricket:
7 – #MohammadShahzad*
4 – Rahmat Shah
2 – Karim Sadiq, Nawroz Mangal#IREvAFG #AFGvIRE #Ireland— CricApp (@TheCricApp) May 21, 2019
.@MShahzad077 hits his 6th ODI ton in the second ODI against Ireland. #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/snT9HSwqV7
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 21, 2019
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