Rashid Khan took a five-wicket haul as Afghanistan won the third and final Twenty20 International (T20I) against Ireland by 32 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun on Sunday, thus completing a 3-0 series whitewash.
Chasing 211 to win, Ireland could muster only 178-8 in response with Kevin O’Brien (74) coming close to taking them home at one point but they were outdone by Rashid’s late onslaught as the spinner ended the match with figures of 5-27.
Ireland were dealt an early blow after skipper Paul Stirling was dismissed in the third over by Ziaur Rahman, but O’Brien and Andy Balbirnie combined to put together a 96-run stand for the second wicket.
The two batted together for nearly 11 overs and found boundaries on a regular basis. They were well set up to launch a blistering attack in the death overs when a double blow in the 14th over turned the game on its head.
Rahman bowled Balbirnie and then a wonderful bit of fielding from Najibullah Zadran at backward point saw him get rid of new batsman Stuart Thompson with a direct hit.
Rashid soon got rid of the danger man O’Brien in the 16th over and then took a hat-trick in the 18th over, sending George Dockrell, Shane Getkate and Simi Singh back to the dugout and putting an end to any slim chances Ireland had of pulling off a consolation win.
