Nabi’s fifty guides Afghanistan to five-wicket win over Ireland

Nabi first scalped two wickets before returning to score an unbeaten fifty as Afghanistan defeated Ireland by five wickets.

Mohammad Nabi made a match-winning half-century.

Mohammad Nabi shone with both bat and ball to guide Afghanistan to a five-wicket win over Ireland in the first T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Nabi first scalped two wickets before returning to score an unbeaten fifty.

Chasing 133 to win, Afghanistan were 50 for 5 in 7.2 overs but Nabi added an unconquered 86-run stand with Najibullah Zadran (40 not out) to take the side home, scoring 136-5 in 19.2 overs.

Earlier, Nabi (2/16) took two wickets, while Rashid Khan also returned with two wickets and Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fareed Ahmad accounted for one each as Afghanistan restricted Ireland to 132-6 in 20 overs.

Ireland found the going tough after electing to bat with George Dockrell (34) and Stuart Poynter (31) giving the team some respectability with an unbeaten 67-run stand after they were struggling at 65-6 at one stage.

Brief scores: Ireland : 132-6 in 20 overs (G Dockrell 34; M Nabi 2/16); Afghanistan: 136-5 in 19.2 overs (M Nabi 51; WB Rankin 2/39).