AFG vs IRE Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! CAUGHT! Barry McCarthy picks up his second and bundles Afghanistan for 110. A commanding victory for Ireland in the first match of this series. It is very full, outside off. Naveen-ul-Haq throws the kitchen sink at it. The ball catches the outer half and flies towards sweeper cover. Gareth Delany there takes a sharp catch. Ireland win the match by 38 runs.

Slower bumper, wide of off. Naveen-ul-Haq leaves it alone.

A length ball, much straighter, on off. Naveen-ul-Haq drills it down the park but denies the single.

FOUR! Fine shot! Lands it outside off, Naveen-ul-Haq reaches out to it and slashes it over backward point as the ball finds the fence.

A full toss, on the body. Fazalhaq Farooqi defends it back to the bowler with a full face.

Full and on off. Naveen-ul-Haq drills it to long on for one.

Nails the wide yorker this time. Naveen-ul-Haq jams it out to backward point.

It is full, wide of off. Naveen-ul-Haq tries to scoop it away but misses.

SIX! BANG! Short ball, on off. Naveen-ul-Haq charges down the track, rides the bounce and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Even Mark Adair is surprised to see what Naveen-ul-Haq is capable of.

A low full toss, on the pads. Fazalhaq Farooqi flicks it to deep square leg for one.

Slower one this time, full and wide of off. This one stays very low. Naveen-ul-Haq swings hard but only to connect with thin air.

Pitches it up, wide of off. Naveen-ul-Haq crunches it to sweeper covers for none.

Shorter one, on middle. Naveen-ul-Haq backs away and mistimes his shot to mid on but only for none.

Full this time, angled in on fourth stumps. Fazalhaq Farooqi jams it out to point for a quick single.

Joshua Little nails the yorker this time, wide of off. Fazalhaq Farooqi looks to dabs it away but misses.

OUT! CAUGHT! Joshua Little makes an instant impact after coming into the attack. It is a short ball, on off. Rashid Khan is cramped for room but still goes for the heave across the line. The ball catches the outer half and flies to long on. Harry Tector there takes a sharp catch.

Pace-up delivery this time, outside off, Naveen-ul-Haq swings hard but misses.

Length ball, in the channel. Rashid Khan gets it to sweeper cover off the outer half. One taken. 52 runs needed in 25.

Back of a length, outside off. Naveen-ul-Haq whips it down to long off for a single.

Slower bumper, outside off. Naveen-ul-Haq tries to play the ramp shot but misses.

Shorter, on middle. Rashid Khan pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Full length, outside off. Rashid Khan crunches it to extra covers but straight to the fielder.

Bowls it on off, Rashid Khan eases it to covers for one.

Wide! Lands it way outside off, Rashid Khan leaves.

Slower one, on middle, Rashid Khan eases it to the cover fielder.

Fuller one, on off, Naveen-ul-Haq eases it to covers for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust! Full and outside off, Mohammad Nabi looks to loft it but gets the toe end of his bat. It goes high up in the air towards extra covers. Harry Tector settles under it and completes the catch.

Lands it on off, Rashid Khan moves forward and drills it through mid off for a boundary!

Lands it outside off with some turn, Rashid Khan looks to block it but misses. A loud appeal for caught behind but the umpire is unmoved!

SIX! Massive hit! Slower one, on middle, Mohammad Nabi picks the length early and lofts it magnificently over long on for a biggie!

Bowls it outside off, Mohammad Nabi punches it to the point fielder.

FOUR! They need more of these! Lands it on middle, Mohammad Nabi stays in his crease and drills it over the bowler's head for a boundary!

Lands it on middle nad leg, Rashid Khan turns it towards square leg for one.

Short, on middle, Rashid Khan punches it to mid off.

Bowls it on middle, Mohammad Nabi flicks it towards cow corner for one.

OUT! TIMBER! What a fantastic piece of bowling this is! Quicker one, on middle and it turns away, Nangeyalia Kharote looks to loft it but misses it completely as the ball hits the off pole. Nangeyalia Kharote walks back for a golden duck and Afghanistan in all sorts of trouble now! Ben White will be on a hat-trick in his next over. Rashid Khan is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ben White strikes finally! Short and on middle, Ijaz Ahmadzai rocks back and looks to pull it but mistimes it completely. The ball carries towards deep mid-wicket. Curtis Campher settles under it and completes the catch. Ijaz Ahmadzai walks back into the shed.

Wide! Bowls it way outside off, Ijaz Ahmadzai leaves. Again Ireland are not happy with the umpire's decision!

Too full, on middle, Mohammad Nabi digs it to mid off for one.

No ball! Oh my word! Full, on off, Mohammad Nabi looks to loft it but mistimes it. It goes off the toe end of the bat towards the fielder in the deep who takes the catch. They celebrate but the umpire had called for a no ball! The batters collect two. Paul Stirling is unhappy with the umpire's decision as he thinks it was not a no ball! Free hit coming up...

This is good bowling! Lands it on middle, with some turn, Ijaz Ahmadzai flicks it to square leg for one.

Bowls it on middle, Ijaz Ahmadzai eases it to the mid on fielder.

Slower one, on middle, Ijaz Ahmadzai pulls it over mid-wicket for a brace. Excellent running between the wickets.

A slower bouncer, Mohammad Nabi looks to pull it but gets beaten.

Too full, on middle, Ijaz Ahmadzai drives it to extra covers for one.

FOUR! This will ease off some pressure! Full and outside off, Ijaz Ahmadzai uses the pace of the ball and guides it past backward point for a boundary.

Wide! Lands it way outside off, Ijaz Ahmadzai looks to slap it but misses.

A full toss, outside off, Ijaz Ahmadzai looks to play at it but misses.

Full and way outside off, Mohammad Nabi reaches out to it and plays it over covers for one.

Round the wicket. Full and outside off, Ijaz Ahmadzai drives it to deep covers for one.

Short, on off, Ijaz Ahmadzai punches it to point for one.

Lands it outside off, Ijaz Ahmadzai blocks it to the cover fielder.

Some turn and bounce, outside off, Ijaz Ahmadzai looks to loft it but gets beaten.

Touch short, on middle, Mohammad Nabi punches it down the ground for one.

A googly, on middle, Ijaz Ahmadzai chips it over the bowler's head for one.

Lands it on middle, Mohammad Nabi eases it to mid on for one.

Fuller one, angled into the pads. Nabi lofts it towards long on and crosses. 6 singles come from this over.

Fuller, on middle. Ijaz Ahmadzai plays the on drive for one more.

Another single taken now as Nabi deals with this full ball with ease.

Flatter one, on off. Ijaz Ahmadzai flicks it into the leg side for a single.

Another single now as Nabi knocks this short ball to mid off.

Darted on the pads. Ijaz Ahmadzai goes back and flicks it into the leg side for one.

Quicker and full, outside off. Ijaz Ahmadzai dabs it into covers for one. Afghanistan need some to put their hand up with the bat.

Pitches it up, full and on middle. Mohammad Nabi tucks it into the leg side for one.

Short one, outside off. Ijaz Ahmadzai carves it to deep backward point for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Half of the side has been sent back to the dugout here. Barry McCarthy picks up a wicket. It is a short ball, outside off. Ibrahim Zadran stays back and swings hard. The ball catches the outer half and chips to mid off. Ibrahim Zadran wanted to find a boundary but fails to continue for long. Harry Tector catches it safely at mid off.

A length ball, in the channel. Ibrahim Zadran looks to chase it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Length, on off. Nabi pushes it to covers for one.

Pushed through quicker, on off. Zadran blocks it out watchfully.

Outside off, in the channel. Ibrahim Zadran looks to chase it but misses.

Mohammad Nabi now rotates the strike as he pushes this full ball down the ground.

An appeal for caught behind, but the umpire is unmoved. It is flighted and full, outside off. Nabi looks to crunch it away but gets beaten on the inside edge.

Shortish, on off. Nabi closes the face and nudges it into mid-wicket.

Floated and full, on middle. It grips and turns out. Ibrahim Zadran pushes it down the park for a single.

Pitches it up, outside off. Zadran pushes it through the line for one more. A wicket and four singles come from this over.

Short one, on off. Nabi knocks it to point for another single.

On off, Zadran taps it into the off side for one more.

Darted on the pads. Nabi tucks it into the leg side for one.

OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! Ben White finds a wicket on his very second delivery. It is floated and full, on middle. Mohammad Ishaq gets low and slogs it to deep mid-wicket. He goes looking for a maximum but ends up finding Barry McCarthy near the ropes who makes no mistake. Mohammad Nabi is the new batter.

Quicker one, on the pads. This one skids through. Mohammad Ishaq tries to clip it away but misses.

FOUR! Shorter, outside off. Ibrahim Zadran backs away and crunches it past extra covers for four runs. Afghanistan now trying to grow in this game.

Mohammad Ishaq now rotates the strike as he knocks this full ball down the park.

FOUR! Nicely played. Mohammad Ishaq continues to grow in the game. It is short, outside off. Mohammad Ishaq cuts it to sweeper cover for a boundary.

Shorter, on off. Mohammad Ishaq mistimes it to mid off via the inner half.

Darted on the pads. Mohammad Ishaq pulls it to deep mid-wicket. The batters take three runs. This is some good running.

A length ball, on off. Mohammad Ishaq defends it watchfully from inside the crease/

Short, outside off, Mohammad Ishaq slaps it to deep point for one. Top over from Barry McCarthy!

Jumps up to beat the bat! Short and outside off, pace off. Mohammad Ishaq looks for an uppercut but misses.

Oh! Back of length outside off, Mohammad Ishaq has a fiddle and cannot adjust with the bounce.

Bowls it on middle, Mohammad Ishaq flicks it to mid-wicket for one.

Lands it on leg, Ibrahim Zadran tickles it fine for one.

Back of a length and on middle, Mohammad Ishaq fends it to mid off for one.

Slower one, on middle and leg, Mohammad Ishaq tucks it to mid on for one.

Off pace on a length and on off, Mohammad Ishaq blocks it back.

FOUR! Thats a beautiful stroke! Fuller one, on middle, Mohammad Ishaq walks down the wicket and drills it down the ground as the ball races away.

Round the wicket. Lands it full and on for, Ibrahim Zadran eases it to covers and scampers across to the other end.

Fuller one, on off, Ibrahim Zadran blocks it to the mid off fielder.

Length and outside off, Ibrahim Zadran looks to play at it but misses.

FOUR MORE! Make that four fours in a row! Full, on middle, Mohammad Ishaq flicks it in the gap through mid-wicket for yet another boundary!

FOUR AGAIN! Three in a row and the crowd is back on their toes now! Length and on middle, Mohammad Ishaq picks it well and heaves it over mid-wicket for another boundary.

FOUR MORE! Back to back boundaries now! Length and on off, Mohammad Ishaq stands tall and chips it over the mid off fielder for fore more.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! Lands it outside off, Mohammad Ishaq looks to loft it but gets a thick outside edge. It flies over slips and finds the fence at third man.

Slower one, outside off, Mohammad Ishaq leaves it again.

Lands it outside off, Mohammad Ishaq leaves it alone.

Wide! Lands it way outside off, Mohammad Ishaq offers no stroke.

On a length and on off, Mohammad Ishaq taps it to short covers for one.

OUT! TIMBER! Oh my word! Pitched up and the ball swings in, Azmatullah Omarzai looks to punch it but gets beaten as the ball clatters over the stumps. Joshua Little is on a hat-trick now! Afghanistan in all sorts of trouble and the crowd goes all silent here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium!

OUT! TAKEN! Joshua Little strikes as Ireland have their second. Hits the deck hard and gets some extra bounce, Sediqullah Atal looks to loft it but the ball hits the upper part of his bat. It lobs towards Harry Tector at extra covers who makes no mistake. Both the Afghanistan openers are back into the hut now!

Lands it down leg, Ibrahim Zadran looks to flick it but it goes off is thighs towards the leg side. They cross for a leg bye!

Touch short and on off, Sediqullah Atal punches it to covers for one.

Good length, outside off, Ibrahim Zadran taps it to backward point for one.

Oh, he has done it again! Back of length outside off, Sediqullah Atal has a fiddle but gets beaten again!

Full and hung outside off. More curve away from the batter and it goes past the outside edge of Sediqullah Atal blade again! Something more seems to be brewing here!

Peach! Length in the channel and this one shapes away late. Sediqullah Atal wafts at it and is beaten all ends up!

Length and on off, Ibrahim Zadran chips it over covers for one. Ibrahim Zadran gets off the mark!

Past the edge! Touch short and it nips in sharply, Ibrahim Zadran looks to block it but gets beaten n the inside edge!

OUT! TAKEN! Mark Adair strikes straightaway! Ireland couldn't have wished for a better start. Bangs in short and on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz mistimes his pull. It carries towards deep mid-wicket. Curtis Campher settles under it and takes a fine catch sliding forward. Rahmanullah Gurbaz walks out for a duck!