Rashid bags four in four as Afghanistan sweeps Ireland aside again

Ireland's hopes of avoiding defeat in the third and final Twenty20 against Afghanistan were ended by Rashid Khan's brilliance with the ball.

Published : Feb 25, 2019 00:27 IST

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan became the first player to claim four wickets in as many deliveries in a T20 international.
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan became the first player to claim four wickets in as many deliveries in a T20 international.
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Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan became the first player to claim four wickets in as many deliveries in a T20 international.

Rashid Khan became the first player to claim four wickets in as many deliveries in a Twenty20 international as he helped Afghanistan complete a 3-0 series sweep over Ireland on Sunday. 

Kevin O'Brien's 74 from 47 deliveries had Ireland progressing well in pursuit of Afghanistan's 210-7 but it fell comfortably short in the end, Rashid its chief tormentor with 5-27.  The leg-spinner dismissed the well-set O'Brien with the final delivery of the 16th over before starting his next with three wickets in succession as George Dockrell, Shane Getkate and Simi Singh all perished.

Josh Little was Rashid's final victim as the 20-year-old claimed his second five-wicket haul for his country in the format, Ireland finishing on 178-8.

While the game failed to reach the record-breaking heights of Saturday's clash between the teams, Afghanistan once again produced an explosive batting performance in Dehradun.

RELATED | Zazai and Afghanistan smash records in thumping win over Ireland

Having conceded 278-3 - the highest score in T20I history - last time out, Ireland surprisingly decided to put its opponent in after winning the toss. Hazratullah Zazai had scored 162 not out 24 hours earlier but the opener fell for 31 this time, with Mohammad Nabi instead the star performer for Afghanistan, the all-rounder blasting seven sixes as he made 81 from 36 balls.

O'Brien gave Ireland a strong start to its reply, combining with Andrew Balbirnie (47) in a 96-run stand for the second wicket, but the outstanding Rashid spun his team to a comfortable 32-run victory.

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