Twitter reacts as Afghanistan cleansweep Ireland courtesy Nabi and Rashid heroics
With the wickets of Getkate, Simi Singh and Joshua Little in three consecutive deliveries, Rashid Khan became the first spinner in T20I history pick up a hat-trick.
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After a low-scoring thriller, Afghanistan smashed home quite a lot of records on Saturday and registered their biggest win in T20Is. On Sunday, they rounded off a perfect weekend and series as they managed to cleansweep their Irish opponents.
Batting first in the dead-rubber clash, Hazratullah Zazai once again started on a strong note and smashed Rankin and Chase to all parts. Boyd Rankin nevertheless got his revenge as he sent Zazai back after his 17-ball 32. The middle order struggled to cope with the Irish momentum and although runs were coming, they never came thick and fast.
It took a monumental effort from Mohammad Nabi to get his side to a high score and towards the end, he went berserk. His 81 off 36 balls, which included 6 fours and 7 sixes, helped Afghanistan post a massive total. They finished with 210/7 in 20 overs, which was quite amazing considering where they were 10 overs prior.
Rashid Khan spoils Ireland’s night
Ireland got off to a fantastic start chasing a huge total, just the way they did chasing 279 in the previous encounter. After Paul Stirling’s early departure, Kevin O’Brien and Andy Balbirnie structured the run chase brilliantly and showcased some amazing strokeplay.
Kevin O’Brien completed a fifty and was backed brilliantly by Balbirnie’s 47 as their 96-run partnership kept Ireland on top. But the Afghan spinners had other ideas and pulled things back brilliantly. Ziaur Rahman, despite conceding a lot of runs, picked up some crucial wickets, most important one being Balbirnie’s scalp in the middle overs. After that, it was all Rashid and his trickery.
He first struck with the wicket of Kevin O’Brien and later came on to provide one of the best spells of his life. With the wickets of Getkate, Simi Singh and Joshua Little in three consecutive deliveries, Rashid Khan became the first spinner in T20I history pick up a hat-trick.
That completed the Irish demolition and concluded Afghanistan’s dominance temporarily, which might resume again when they play each other in a few days time again.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to their performance.
4 wickets in 4 balls in International cricket:
Lasith Malinga (in 2007 WC)
Rashid Khan TODAY— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 24, 2019
Afghanistan teased Ireland in the field for 17 overs only for Rashid Khan to take a hat-trick in the 18th. So mean.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) February 24, 2019
Yesterday was @zazai_3 and today @MohammadNabi007 and @rashidkhan_19 #hattriks show his class Very well done #bluetigers pic.twitter.com/1C23VyJAKA
— Aftab Alam 55 (@aftabalam55786) February 24, 2019
Rashid Khan has taken 11 wickets in this series, while the other Afghanistan bowlers have taken only eight.#AFGHvIRE
— Nikhil Mane 🏏🇦🇺 (@nikhiltait) February 24, 2019
Five-for for @rashidkhan_19 !!
The spin magician has been in sublime form in this series with 11 wickets in just three matches !#AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/HsV1nazvWP— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 24, 2019
Only four bowlers have multiple T20I five-fors in their careers: Umar Gul, Ajantha Mendis, Imran Tahir… and @rashidkhan_19. Who by the way is only 20 years old.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) February 24, 2019
Rashid Khan becomes the second bowler after Lasith Malinga to take FOUR wickets in FOUR balls. #AFGvIRE
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 24, 2019
Only four bowlers have multiple T20I five-fors in their careers: Umar Gul, Ajantha Mendis, Imran Tahir… and @rashidkhan_19. Who by the way is only 20 years old.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) February 24, 2019
Rashid Khan. Gets 4 in a row, and a fifer in a #T20I. Yes. In T20. 😮 @rashidkhan_19 Fantastic stuff.
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) February 24, 2019
Second fifer for Rashid khan in T20I just 38 matches. Absolutely stunning performance by This Young genius leg spinner 👏👏. #AFGvIRE
— Tanuj Singh (@TanujSi47701251) February 24, 2019
Best Bowling by Afghanistan in T20 Internationals
Rashid Khan 5/3 v Ireland @ Greater Noida 2017
Rashid Khan 5/27 v Ireland @ Dehradun 2019 *TODAY*#AFGvIRE 🇦🇫☘️🏏— Cricket Statz UK 🏏 (@CricketStatz) February 24, 2019
Won 3-0. Congratulations 🇦🇫🏏🏆
It is the team with best players that win. Superb Hat-Trick🎩by @rashidkhan_19 & sensational batting by @MohammadNabi007. #BlueTigers r Strong💪🏼Brave 🙌🏼Humble🙏🏼 &Victorious👏🏼 #AFGvIRE
✅Match 1. Win by 🇦🇫
✅Match 2. Win by 🇦🇫
✅Match 3. Win by 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/0vwcEbiNJ1— Diva Patang (@DivaPatang) February 24, 2019
Rashid Khan is the T20 George Lohmann. Future generations will look and wonder if he could really have been so good. He is. @guerillacricket #guerillacricket
— Arthurshire (@ArthurshireCC) February 24, 2019
Incredible performences by legendry afghan cricketers yesterday @zazai_3 162 nt out today king of spin @rashidkhan_19 hat trick 5. 24.4 plus great knock by @MohammadNabi007 81 important runs. Congrats to entire nation for clean swip series win against ireland 3.0 pic.twitter.com/zdn6waImAx
— Mirwais Ashraf (@MirwaisAshraf16) February 24, 2019
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