Balbirnie’s 145 helps Ireland level series

DEHRA DUN, India: A brilliant hundred from Andy Balbirnie steered Ireland to a four-wicket win over Afghanistan in the third One-day International on Tuesday.

With the victory, Ireland levelled the five-match series 1-1 after the second game was washed out.Chasing 257 on a sluggish wicket, Balbirnie smashed eight fours and as many sixes during his unbeaten 136-ball 145 to take his side home with one over to spare.

Earlier, Afghanistan recovered from 74 for 5 on the back of Najibullah Zadran’s maiden ODI hundred and a composed 75 by captain Asghar Afghan to post 256 for 8 but as it panned out, it wasn’t enough.

Ireland lost William Porterfield to Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the third over before Dawlat Zadran dismissed Paul Stirling and Simi Singh in one over to reduce the visitors to 29 for 3. Balbirnie and Kevin O’Brien took the side to 73 before O’Brien mistimed a juicy full toss from Samiullah Shinwari to Asghar at mid-on, and it looked like Afghanistan were cruising towards yet another win.

But Balbrinie and George Dockrell batted sensibly to put that chase back on track. The 143-run stand came to an end when Mohammad Nabi got Dockrell stumped for 54.