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'The wait for a win is over' - Fans appreciate Ireland for their T20I win after a long wait

Twitter users also went on to appreciate the Ireland for their brilliant performance against Afghanistan. They praised the performances of...

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'The wait for a win is over' - Fans appreciate Ireland for their T20I win after a long wait

Ireland is currently hosting Afghanistan for the five-match T20I series. Both teams locked horns in the opening fixture of the series at Belfast’s Civil Service Cricket Club. The visitors’ skipper Mohammad Nabi won the toss and elected to bat first in the first T20I. Afghanistan posted a decent total of 168 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

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Chasing the target, Ireland easily crossed the line in 19.5 overs and scored 171 for the loss of three wickets and won the match by seven wickets. Notably, this win has come for Ireland after a long time as they were losing very close matches in T20Is over the last couple of months. It also includes two-match T20I home series against the Indians.

Twitter users also went on to appreciate the Irish team for their brilliant performance against Afghanistan. They praised the performances of the players including skipper Andy Balbirnie.

Skipper Andy Balibirnie and Lorcan Tucker played the match-defining knocks for Ireland

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Batting first, the opening batter Usman Ghani played a commendable knock of 59 runs off 42 balls with six boundaries and two sixes to his name. Other than him, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and lower order batter Ibrahim Zadran played the vital knocks of 26 and 29 runs respectively.

With the help of these crucial knocks, the visitors posted a total of 168 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Ireland’s Barry McCarthy ended up as the highest wicket-taker for his team.

While chasing the target, the opening pair of senior skipper and senior batter Paul Stirling provided a strong to Ireland. They both made a partnership of 61 runs for the first wicket. Andy Balbirnie played a captaincy knock of 51 runs off 38 balls with five boundaries and a six. Other than him, wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker scored an amazing knock of 50 runs alongside a crucial 31-run knock by Paul Stirling.

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With the help of these commendable knocks, Ireland chased the target only on the loss of three wickets with one ball to spare. The hosts’ captain Balbirnie won the award of player of the match for his match-defining knock.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Ireland’s win in the first T20I against Afghanistan:

Cricket News International