Rashid lifts Afghans to 177

SHARJAH: Ireland kept things largely in check for most parts of the innings but Rahid Khan’s 55-ball 44 propped up Afghanistan to 177 all out from 109 for 6 in Sharjah in the series-deciding third and final One-day International on Sunday.

Asghar Stanikzai won his first toss of the series and had no hesitation in batting first. The openers gave the team a steady start - scoring 34 in 6.5 overs - before Javed Ahmadi become the first batsman to fall. Ahmadi had been going well during his stay of 31 deliveries as he picked up 27 to get the innings going.

Boyd Rankin then struck soon after and dismissed Noor Ali Zadran for 9 to force Afghanistan into a period of consolidation with the scorecard reading 36 for 2 in the eighth over. Rahmat Shah looked in fine touch during his stay and started the rebuilding process with Stanikzai.

The Afghanistan captain, however, struggled to get the runs on a sluggish pitch and the pressure continued to mount on Shah. Stanikzai fell for 5, after a 24-ball struggle, when he sliced a Paul Stirling delivery to short third man. At 64 for 3, Afghanistan were right back at square one.

For the next nine overs it seemed Shah had found the perfect partner to take the innings forward.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 177 in 48.2 overs (Rashid Khan 44, Rahmat Shah 44; George Dockrell 4-28) vs Ireland.