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Meet Phil McCormick, groundskeeper for the historic Stormont test match

As Ireland Men and Zimbabwe Men prepare for the first ever test match in Northern Ireland, attention also moves to the 22 yards between the stumps, known as the wicket or pitch, being prepared by Stormont groundskeeper Phil McCormick.

His work will have been a closely guarded secret as he curates for a match that will be watched around the world. The work itself will result in how the ball behaves after it’s delivered by the bowler, and how the ball behaves off the turf could help either Ireland Men or Zimbabwe Men win this test match. Phil McCormack has curated for big games before including fixtures against Australia, England and a memorable series against Afghanistan in 2016.

Phil McCormick on becoming a groundskeeper:
“I've always had an interest in it and I was given the opportunity here when I was 17 or 18 after I left school to come over for the summer and help out help out Tommy Hamilton, who was a head groundsman back then and enjoyed it that much that they decided to keep me on the Winter. I went to Greenmount and did my Level 2 NVQ in Sports and Turf when I was 18 or 19 and then I've stayed on ever since that.”

On preparing his ground for the test match:
“I've been 28 years in the job, and this is the pinnacle for me… for any groundsman you want to be a Test match groundsman. There’s hosting one day internationals against Australia and England and all the rest of it but actually being the Test match groundsman and having your Test match ground number is as big as you can get. So this is going to be huge. Yeah, you just hope it goes well. You would love to get it into the fifth day, that would be something really, really special.”

On the art of preparing pitches:
“That's the thing about cricket. You can go out and cut a football pitch in the same height, have it looking lovely and you can do a speed test with the [foot] ball rolling over it. It's not an exact science, but cricket is nowhere near an exact science. Like every pitch is different. You can get moisture… you can get impact hammers, you can dry it out. You can record the temperatures, the amount of rainfall, and it will still not play the same. And how the ball reacts with the cloud cover, the humidity, all these, dozens of different factors play a part… it's not just the pitch, it’s the atmosphere… there's no exact science and that's why it's so good preparing pitches. Because you know you can prepare hundreds of pitches, and you maybe never get the same one again. Possibly more art than science.”

ICC expresses sadness at the passing of Frank Duckworth

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed its sorrow at the death of Frank Duckworth, co-creator of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method that is used for regulating targets in weather-affected limited overs games.

Duckworth, 84, who was a consultant statistician with the ICC until 2014, passed on Friday.

ICC General Manager – Cricket Operations, Wasim Khan, condoled Duckworth’s death and acknowledged his contribution to the game.

Wasim Khan: “Frank was a top statistician who was respected by peers as well as the wider cricket fraternity. The DLS method that he co-created has stood the test of time and we have continued to use it in international cricket more than two decades after its inception.

“Frank’s contribution to the game has been immense and the world of cricket is poorer with his death. We send our condolences to his family and friends.”

Duckworth was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2010.

Calling on females in cricket to get involved and shape the future of cricket!

Cricket Ireland is delighted to announce that applications for the "On the Front Foot" leadership development programme are now open. Established in 2020, and supported by the Sport Ireland Women in Sport fund, the initiative has been designed to empower and engage females in the sport as leaders through a programme of activity aiming to enhance innovation, creativity and leadership capabilities.

Now entering its fourth year, the successful programme has already seen over 30 women advance their leadership roles in cricket, impacting the sport at various levels, from local clubs, to the international game and national governance. This network of women are not just leading on the field but in all aspects of cricket – as coaches, administrators, referees, activators and at governance and Board level.

The programme is free and applications are open to female cricket club members over the age of 18 involved in any aspect of the sport. This includes players, coaches, volunteers, administrators, activators and more.

“Just apply!” says former participant Rashi Mukhopadhayay from Cork County Cricket Club, Munster Cricket Union who participated in the 2023 programme:

“Don’t think about it. Just apply and be part of an amazing programme. You are not just going to grow your own self, but you are going to make an impact on the Girls and Women around you.


Since her involvement, Rashi has been appointed onto the Women and Girls Committee for Munster Cricket Union where she is having a strong influence in the direction and growth of the game across the region.

Elaine Nolan, Director of Growth and Strategy at Cricket Ireland, highlighted the value of the programme and why its important for females in cricket to get involved:

"Since we started, we've seen women of all experience levels join the programme. It’s not just for players; it's for anyone who cares about cricket and wants to progressively shape and be involved in its future.

“We know many females are working hard to promote and support the sport at club and national level. This programme is designed to empower them further, accelerating their journey of involvement within cricket.

“What’s very powerful about the programme is the peer-to-peer connections that are made as well as the mentoring. It gives participants space to discuss experiences, challenges and learning in a safe and supportive environment. It builds confidence, equips them with strategies to have an impact and also provides a supportive network they can lean on and learn from.

“We are looking forward to this year’s programme and hope to see women from all across Ireland getting involved.”

Interested female cricket club members over the age of 18 can find more information and apply by Friday, 23 August at www.cricket-programmes.com/on-the-front-foot.

More information:

ON THE FRONT FOOT FEMALE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Who is it for?
The programme is free and open to all women over 18 involved in cricket, including players, coaches, volunteers, activators and administrators.

What’s involved?
Timing: September 2024 to March 2025
Format: Six online 90-minute sessions in the evenings and two in-person Saturdays at the Sport Ireland Institute in Dublin.

What do I get?
Delivered in partnership with Carrie Archer, a graduate and former mentor of the programme.
Content designed to challenge thinking and build personal and professional growth
Guest sessions with leaders and experts in cricket.
Mentorship opportunities.
Connection with a network of future female leaders in cricket

How do I submit an application?
Apply at www.cricket-programmes.com/on-the-front-foot by 23 AUGUST at 5pm

Crucial contributions from Mark Adair and Fionn Hand ensured Ireland Men kicked off their tri-series campaign with a dramatic one-run victory over the Netherlands on Sunday.

Having been put into bat first by their hosts, Ireland set Netherlands a target of 151 for victory. Adair ensured the Irish got to 150-8 from their 20 overs, his innings of 49 from just 24 deliveries including seven fours and two sixes.

Hand then turned the game on its head with a superb spell of 3-18, with his fourth and final over - the 16th of the match - proving critical as he first picked up the crucial scalp of Bas de Leede (32) and then removed Teja Nidamanuru two balls later.

It looked to set up a comfortable win for the tourists but Tim Pringle's remarkable hitting (35* from 13 balls) left Netherlands needing 20 from the final over and then three from the final ball. Adair (2-34), though, saw Ireland over the line as Pringle could only manage a single in a nerve-wracking finish.

Netherlands had already beaten Scotland in the opening match of the tri-series between the three nations on Saturday in what is a highly consequential set of fixtures at Voorburg CC. These matches not only serve as crucial 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup preparations for Ireland and Scotland but could also determine who qualifies for the 2026 event. The top-12 teams in ICC's official world rankings by the end of the upcoming T20 World Cup will likely qualify for the next edition, with Ireland currently 11th, Scotland 13th and Netherlands 15th.

The home nation were quick to put Ireland into bat after winning the toss and made an excellent start by removing Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling and Harry Tector inside the powerplay.

Lorcan Tucker, who scored successive half centuries in his last two T20Is against Pakistan, continued his good run of form, top-scoring with 40 from 30 balls. His innings included five fours and a six but came to an end courtesy of the bowling of Tim Pringle in the 12th over.

When George Dockrell then departed with the score 83-6, it looked as though Ireland would post a total some way below par.

Gareth Delany (18*) and Adair, who fell in the final over just one short of a second T20I half century, went on to ensure the Irish bowlers had something to bowl at as they put on 66 for the seventh wicket.

In reply, Netherlands made a steady start with the bat, but Ireland managed to strike with the final ball of the powerplay thanks to Curtis Campher's breakthrough. Campher went on to collect a second wicket and was the pick of the Irish bowlers until Hand came roaring into action. The 25-year-old was one of the changes to the side from the final match against Pakistan and grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

Following his 16th over heroics, Ireland were firmly in the driving seat until Pringle took the game to the very brink and caused some late nerves. Fortunately, Adair held his.

Ireland is back in action on Monday when they face Scotland at the same venue.

MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland 150-8 (20 overs; M Adair 49, L Tucker 40; T Pringle 3-32, D Doram 2-27, P V Meekeren 2-27)
Netherlands 149-8 (20 overs; T Pringle 35*, M O'Dowd 33, BD Leede 32; F Hand 3-18, C Campher 2-33, M Adair 2-34)

Ireland won by 1 run

Ireland Men fell to a 2-1 series defeat at the hands of Pakistan, with the tourists sealing victory by six wickets in the final match of the three-game T20I series in Clontarf on Tuesday.

Set 179 for victory, the stellar Pakistan pairing of Babar Azam (75) and Mohammad Rizwan (56) put on a 139-run partnership for the second wicket to see their side home with 18 balls to spare.

The tough three-match series - whilst a loss for Ireland - still provided enormous positives having beaten Pakistan for the first time in T20Is in the opening game.

There were bright moments at Clontarf Cricket Club on Tuesday, too, particularly in the shape of stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker's superb knock of 73 from just 41 deliveries after his side were put into bat first.

Both sides made changes at the toss. Tucker stepped in for the rested Paul Stirling to skipper Ireland, with Ross Adair and Neil Rock replacing the captain and Gareth Delany, respectively. Azam, meanwhile, swapped in Hasan Ali for Naseem Shah.

Adair launched Mohammad Amir for an enormous six with just his second ball of the innings but was clean bowled in the third over trying to give Shaheen Shah Afridi the same treatment.

That brought Tucker to the crease, where he joined former white-ball captain Andrew Balbirnie. The pair immediately took apart the Pakistan bowling attack as they raced to 50-1 at the end of the powerplay.

Tucker, who had made 51 in the previous game, reached a second successive half century - and eighth overall in T20Is - from just 29 balls.

By the time Balbirnie was caught in the deep for 35, Ireland had brought up their 100 in the 11th over, with Lorcan Tucker relishing the added responsibility of captaincy.

Tucker's knock was imperious, but the 27-year-old was denied a first T20I century when caught at long-on, ending an innings that included 13 fours and one six.

Harry Tector, who earlier launched his first ball over the ropes for six, went on to produce a well-made unbeaten 30 from 20 balls at the back end of the innings as Ireland set Pakistan 179 to win the series.

Ireland then went in the search of early wickets and Mark Adair duly delivered, removing opener Saim Ayub in the third over.

The Northern Knights seamer was excellent throughout and took two more wickets late on but, unfortunately for the hosts, Pakistan were otherwise ruthless in their pursuit of victory.

While they offered several chances, the visitors showed their incredible overall quality within their squad to walk away with the Floki trophy having secured a 2-1 T20I series win.

MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland 178-7 (20 overs; L Tucker 73, A Balbirnie 35, H Tector 30*; S Afridi 3-14, A Afridi 2-43)
Pakistan 181-4 (17 overs; B Azam 75, M Rizwan 56; M Adair 3-28, C Young 1-49)
Pakistan won by 6 wickets

Cricket Ireland has welcomed an agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board that will see Ireland Men tour Pakistan for the first time in 2025.

Cricket Ireland’s Chair, Brian MacNeice, met yesterday with PCB Chair, Mohsin Naqvi, and agreed on the tour provisionally set for August/September.
Brian MacNeice said:
“We are delighted to have welcomed Chairman Naqvi to Dublin and we had a very productive meeting. The presence of the PCB chairman in Ireland was very much appreciated and is a strong indicator of the excellent relationship between the two boards.
“Discussions were wide-ranging, and included exploring men’s, women’s and Wolves-level fixtures in the future. I’m very pleased that we were able to agree a men’s tour next year - this will be yet another historic first, coming after the tour to Pakistan by our senior women in 2022.
“We were also briefed on developments in relation to the Pakistan Super League and potential opportunities for Irish players in PSL franchises.
“The Pakistan squad have been excellent ambassadors for their country over the last week and have been very generous in their interactions with fans throughout their time in Ireland. We very much look forward to the deciding game in the series tomorrow and of course our meeting in the T20 World Cup next month.
“The cricketing friendship between Ireland and Pakistan runs very deep – indeed, the first meeting between the two sides was in 1962 here in Dublin, and Pakistan has been our opponent for both our inaugural women’s and men’s Test matches.
“We look forward to this auspicious tour and thank Chairman Naqvi and the PCB for their ongoing friendship and support.”

Details about the tour will be released in due course.
Pakistan Men are currently touring Ireland, with a three-match T20I series level at 1-1 with the last game tomorrow.

TNT Sports will broadcast the three-match T20I series between Ireland Men and Pakistan Men, it was announced today.

The broadcaster will ensure coverage of the series in the Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom.

Production of the broadcast will be provided by HBV Studios, with a commentary team line-up headed by renowned commentator, Alan Wilkins.

FIXTURE SCHEDULE
Pakistan T20I Series
10 May 2024: Ireland v Pakistan (1st T20I; Clontarf; start 3pm)
12 May 2024: Ireland v Pakistan (2nd T20I; Clontarf; start 3pm)
14 May 2024: Ireland v Pakistan (3rd T20I; Clontarf; start 3pm)

Andrew May, Chief Financial Officer for Cricket Ireland, said:

“We are delighted that TNT Sports are deepening their relationship with Irish cricket through this coverage. With all three matches sold out, and both teams building up to the T20 World Cup next month, there is intense interest in the series and through this broadcast platform we can provide access across Ireland and in the UK for fans to watch along.

“We’re delighted, too, that HBV Studios will be our production partner, bringing an eight-camera production for fans to enjoy.”

OTHER GLOBAL BROADCAST RIGHTSHOLDERS
Tapmad - Pakistan
Ten Sports - Pakistan
Fancode – Indian Sub-continent
Etisalat – MENA
Nagorik TV – Bangladesh
Toffee - Bangladesh

COMMENTARY TEAM
Alan Wilkins
Alan is a Welsh cricket commentator and former English county cricketer, who played for Glamorgan and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs. He moved into radio and television broadcasting in 1984 covering cricket and rugby.
Isobel Joyce
Isobel is a former Ireland Women's captain and renowned all-rounder. She is Ireland Women's highest wicket-taker of all time and fifth-highest run-scorer. Since retiring in 2018, Isobel has coached and developed a commentary career.
Faisal Shah
A former First-class cricketer and a Level II qualified coach, Shah represented Rawalpindi in First-class and List A cricket. He Spent 10 years playing and coaching cricket in Essex for Loughton Cricket Club, and took up broadcasting in 2014.
Andrew Leonard
Andrew is an international cricket commentator from Dublin who has commentated on more than 800 internationals across more than 30 countries, with a particular focus on Associate Cricket. He commentated on his first Test Match in 2023 and was also part of the the Broadcast team for the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup in 2024.
Alan Lewis
Alan is a former Irish international captain and former elite rugby referee. He played 121 times for Ireland - 35 as captain - and was inducted into the Irish cricket Hall of Fame in 2020. Alan has become an accomplished broadcaster and is the father of two Irish internationals - Gaby and Robyn.

Cricket Ireland AGM-28 April 2024

Stella Downes was confirmed as Cricket Ireland’s new President, while three new Directors were approved for the Board of Cricket Ireland amongst a number of motions approved at Cricket Ireland’s Annual General Meeting yesterday.

The AGM started with Chair Brian MacNeice honouring members of the Irish cricket family that passed over the last 12 months, before Cricket Ireland’s Chief Financial Officer, Andrew May, gave a presentation on the 2023 annual financial statements and a breakdown of new investments across the game in the 2024 budget.

Following that, Brian MacNeice updated the Members on a range of projects.

Excerpts from his address are as follows:

Budget 2024
“Cricket Ireland will provide an uplift of €2.35M for Irish cricket in 2024, this is being used to rebalance investment priorities between high performance, grassroots and facilities and infrastructure. A key part of Cricket Ireland’s remit is to focus on ensuring the long-term growth and sustainability of the game – and investment now is crucial.”
“In addition, we are also seeking to make our loan repayments to the ICC as expediently as possible, as this will help return Cricket Ireland to a positive cash reserve position over the coming years. This is an important priority for us and is an important safeguard for the sport.”

Support for participation, clubs and Provincial Unions
“We have ramped up our investment in a number of ways. Our participation programme is one of the main ways we attract new members and players into the game – this is crucial for the sustainability of the game. As such, we have committed an 83% funding increase in participation activities (this is up to €165K) and it covers activities such as education courses, safeguarding, Smash It and It’s Wicket! programmes. This funding will also be complemented by over €400K in government-funded programmes in 2024.”
“Provincial Unions are vital to the success of cricket and in particular the grassroots of the game. We have committed an incremental investment uptick of 20% overall (for Cricket Leinster, Northern Cricket Union and North West Cricket Union – to go towards an additional development officer in each province and increased provision for inter-pro coaches - this is to recognise PU’s investment into their Head coaches, so Cricket Ireland has increased funding towards these positions). A bigger allocation for Munster to level things up in terms of staff (two development officers and a full time operations manager) and to help nurture and build on the current cricket being played in the province.”
“An allocation has been made to begin the formal process of Connacht Cricket Union’s affiliation with Cricket Ireland – this is investment to support and grow the game in the west in order to grow and nurture cricket in every province.”
“We also recognise the staff of Provincial Unions and will additionally pay cost of living increases to staff.”

Restoration of the Club Fund
“The Club & Community Fund is back for the first time since COVID and there will be a fund of €70K – in the first year it will focus on small-scale capital projects and other projects at club level (e.g. inclusion programmes, coaching projects). The intention is to grow this fund year-on-year.”

Investment in Development Officers
“We have funding and budget for a new development officer for each province.”

Uplift for player remuneration
“We understand the need to be prudent with financial resources. However, it's important to consider the broader context. Our players are currently not as well compensated as those from other full member nations. We want to ensure our players are fairly rewarded for their hard work and dedication – balancing where we are financially. By increasing players remuneration as we intend to, and match fees, we are investing in the long-term sustainability of Irish cricket.”
“In days gone by we were concerned about Irish players going to play for England. Today the concern is franchise cricket, and we need to be conscious of the challenge it poses to cricket boards and central player contracts.”

National Stadium
“There are many benefits to the proposed national stadium. Financially, it will help drive revenue and save us an awful lot of money in temporary infrastructure every year. Cricket-wise, we will have more control, more access and have more pitches available to host matches. We will also co-locate our indoor and outdoor training facilities at the site.”
“It is important, too, to recognise that having a national stadium helps to recognise cricket as a mainstream sport – it gives our sport a home and is commensurate with our status as the world’s second largest sport.”
“Where are we at? A Master Plan for the campus has been completed and government has given a green light on design and quantity surveying. Now the business case is before government and we are awaiting a response.”

YMCA issue
“We appreciate how upsetting this has been and the deep disappointment and loss for YMCA members. Myself and a number of Cricket Ireland people undertook advocacy and partnership building behind the scenes to try and support the Club, which was ultimately unsuccessful.”
“It is crucial that we, as a sport, do not lose any more grounds. In fact, we need more facilities, more access and more opportunities for cricket to be played across Ireland.”
“We will continue to work with clubs and PUs to talk with local authorities across Ireland as part of ongoing efforts to find ways to increase access and facilities.”

Amongst the motions approved by the voting Members:

New President: Stella Downes was unanimously confirmed as Cricket Ireland President, taking over from William Wilson.

New Vice President: Donna Armstrong was also unanimously confirmed as Cricket Ireland Vice President, meaning she will replace Stella at next year’s AGM.

New Board Directors: Three new Directors were appointed to the Board, being David Richardson (Independent Director), Sukhi Byrne (Munster Cricket representative) and Liam Lynch (Independent Director).

Short biographies:

David Richardson spent 17 years at the ICC, including seven as CEO, and left behind sport with greater context, improved gender balance and ready for further growth. During this time he pursued an agenda of inclusion and meritocratic expansion, while maintaining a balance between all three formats of the game. As a former international cricketer of distinction and a lawyer with sports marketing experience, David Richardson brought a unique level of experience and insight to his two senior roles at the ICC. He became the ICC’s first General Manager – Cricket in 2002 and after ten years in that role he became the fourth Chief Executive of the organisation. Cricket Ireland became an ICC Full Member during his tenure as ICC CEO.

Sukhi Byrne is Munster Cricket’s nominee to the Board. A former solicitor with over 15 years in the corporate sector, she is currently a Mindfulness Coach running her own business. Sukhi is also a graduate of Cricket Ireland’s “On the Front Foot” women’s leadership programme and is the first graduate from that programme to become a Board member. Sukhi has also played an active role in growing the game in Munster and working in youth cricket in the province. Her knowledge and passion for growing the game will be an asset to the Board as we focus on the extension of our participation programmes.

Liam Lynch is a Chartered Accountant, with over 30 years experience. He is currently the Head of Financial Services Tax and Head of Private Clients at KPMG Ireland. He has held significant roles, such as: President Chartered Accountants Ireland, Council Member, Chartered Accountants Ireland, Chair of Finance Board, Chair of Tax Committee, Combined Committee of Accounting Bodies in Ireland and Chair of TALC (with Revenue, tax, legal and accounting liaison), Chair, Ireland India Business Association, Chair, Advisory group for Common Purpose Ireland. He is currently a Member of the Implementation Group for Government Philanthropy Policy.

Administrative matters: Motions were passed on the Annual Report, language amendments in the Memorandum & Articles of Association (primarily to update titles of regulatory bodies to reflect their current names, and to ensure gender-neutral language), and re-appointment of BDO as the auditors.

The meeting concluded with speeches from the outgoing and incoming Presidents, William Wilson and Stella Downes respectively – as well as the ceremonial handover of the role.

Incoming Cricket Ireland President Stella Downes gave credit to her late father for instilling a love of cricket as she accepted the honorary role at the Cricket Ireland Annual General Meeting today.

Stella has been central to the running of Clontarf Cricket Club - and cricket in Ireland generally – for over 25 years. As well as long periods in Clontarf CC as Scorer, Club Secretary, Player, Child Protection Officer and general club administrator, Stella has also been the Ireland Men’s National Team Scorer for most of that period.

As part of that function, Stella has scored over 200 international and inter-provincial matches, plus innumerable club matches. In recent years, Stella has led the way in Scorer education, and she is also an accomplished sports administrator, having sat on multiple competition and management committees.

She was the first female president of Cricket Leinster (in 2020-21) and becomes the second female President of Cricket Ireland.

Stella replaces outgoing President, William Wilson (separate release to come).
Stella said:
"I'm extremely honoured to have been asked to take on the role of President of Cricket Ireland. I have huge admiration and respect for those who have gone before me, and I hope to live up to the high standards they have set. My father gave me my love of cricket and I know that he would be so proud to see me elected to this role.

“I was thrilled to discover a local cricket club when I moved to the Northside to begin my teaching career and Clontarf Cricket Club became my second home. I loved playing but took it up too late to ever be a world beater! Opening the batting on our 2nd XI was the dizzy heights of my prowess as a cricketer. Captaining teams meant looking for umpires, so I volunteered to score for the men's teams in a kind of skill swap.

“I have now been scoring for them for over thirty years. Scoring for North Leinster and Ireland followed, though my first international game was actually scoring for Wales in Castle Avenue.

“I sat on the Clontarf women's committee for many years, also serving as their rep on the Leinster Women’s Cricket Union, before being Clontarf’s women's president for three years. I also became honorary secretary of our men's club at around this time. When the two clubs amalgamated, I was given the honour of being the first female president of the club in 2018. The presidency of Cricket Leinster followed to add to my collection of blazers, and I currently sit on the Cricket Leinster Board.

“I'm passionate about cricket officiating and have sat on the committee of IACUS for a number of years as the scorers' rep. Over the past three years I have been developing online scoring courses to provide training for scorers countrywide. It is hugely rewarding and I'm really looking forward to meeting many of my online "graduates" as I travel around the country this season.

“I'm excited to be President in a World Cup year and look forward to supporting both our male and female teams as they pit their skills against the best in the world. I'm also looking forward to the huge volume of youth and development matches planned for the coming season. Most of all, I'm looking forward to travelling to clubs the length and breadth of the country, meeting up with old friends and making new ones.

“Cricket is a wonderful sport with an incredible community spirit and it's the people who make it special. I love it all, from the tensest international game to the "hit and giggle" of the Under 9s. I can't wait for it all to begin.”

Ireland Men lost their third and final T20I against Afghanistan on Monday night, with the hosts claiming the series 2-1 in the process.

After the Afghans posted 155-7 - the highest score of the series so far - Ireland battled hard but were bowled out for 98, ending a memorable and engaging tour on a down note, but a tour full of positives for a still young and evolving squad. In particular, fans will long remember the day Ireland Men claimed an historic first victory in Test cricket – and despite losing both white-ball series, the Irish side had some great moments with bat and ball, and had fought their way into potential match-winning positions on several occasions.

But today was not to be for the Men in Green. Paul Stirling's side remained unchanged from their loss the night before and were put into the field first, for the second game in succession.

As has been his want in the UAE over the past month, Mark Adair picked up an early scalp before Gareth Delany and Curtis Campher also chipped in with a wicket apiece, reducing Afghanistan to 63-3 after 10 overs.

Ireland's bowlers were impressive once again, with all six options used by Stirling claiming an Afghanistan wicket. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Zadran was the man who held his side's batting together with a new career best in T20I cricket of 72 from 51 deliveries - a total which helped the hosts to 155-7 from their 20 overs.

Andrew Balbirnie took nine from the first over, but the prodigious swing of Naveen-ul-Haq did for both Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker in the second. Fazalhaq Farooqi then bowled Stirling to reduce Ireland to 15-3 and up against it in their pursuit of victory.

Their task got greater when in-form Harry Tector fell for 17 and, at 46-5 at the midway point of their run chase, the game was all-but over. A 36-run partnership between Campher and Delany threatened to get their team back into the game, but the task proved too great.

While Afghanistan's spinners had led the way in the previous games, their seamers did the damage in game three. Azmatullah Omarzai played the starring role with 4-9 from his four overs and Naveen collected 3-10.

MATCH SUMMARY
Afghanistan 155-7 (20 overs; I Zadran 72*; C Campher 1-23, J Little 1-27)
Ireland 98 (17.2 overs; C Campher 28; A Omarzai 4-9, N ul-Haq 3-10)

Ireland Men fell to a narrow 10-run defeat at the hands of Afghanistan on Sunday, levelling the three match T20I series at 1-1 and setting up a decider in Monday's final match of the tour.

Having won the opening T20I two days previously, Ireland knew a win in the second game would clinch the series in their favour.

But, chasing 153 for victory, they were undone by the brilliance of opposing captain Rashid Khan, whose 4-14 with the ball ripped through Ireland's middle-order on route to victory. Some exceptional late hitting from Gareth Delany (39) kept Irish hopes alive but they eventually came up 10 runs short of their target.

While Afghanistan remained unchanged from the first T20I, Ireland welcomed George Dockrell back into the team, replacing Neil Rock after recovering from illness. The game was a landmark occasion for Andrew Balbirnie, who made his 100th T20I appearance - becoming just the fourth Ireland Men’s cricketer to do so.

Having been put in the field by Khan at the toss, Paul Stirling's side made a blistering start thanks to new ball pair Mark Adair (3-27) and Josh Little (2-20). They each struck twice in the first four overs of the match, leaving their hosts reeling at 14-4.

Sediqullah Atal and Mohammad Nabi recovered with a 79-run partnership for the fifth-wicket, which was eventually broken by sharp fielding off his own bowling by Curtis Campher who raced into the outfield and returned a bullet throw to Lorcan Tucker which found Atal short of his ground.

Barry McCarthy's two wickets in the final over took him to 50 in T20Is, Afghanistan setting Ireland with a target of 153 to seal the series.

The experienced duo of Stirling and Balbirnie made a strong start to the run chase before the former departed for 24 in the final over of the powerplay and the score 49-1.

Balbirnie eventually made 45 from 44 balls in an innings that included two fours and two sixes but wickets fell around the Leinster Lightning batter. Khan then took centre stage with the ball, rushing through Ireland's batters and removing dangermen Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector with successive deliveries.

Teenage tweaker Nangeyalia Kharote's (2-23) excellent form also continued as Ireland failed to find an answer to Afghanistan's spinners until Delany's knock of 39 from only 18 deliveries. His innings contained three fours and four sixes as Ireland hit 40 from the final three overs, but it wasn't enough to claim victory.

The third and final match of the T20I series takes place at the same venue tomorrow.

MATCH SUMMARY
Afghanistan v Ireland, 1st T20I, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates -- 17 March 2024
Afghanistan 152-9 (20 overs; M Nabi 59, S Atal 35; M Adair 3-27, J Little 2-20, B McCarty 2-33)
Ireland 142-8 (10 overs; A Balbirnie 45, G Delany 39, P Stirling 24; R Khan 4-14, N Kharote 2-23)
Afghanistan won by 10 runs

Ireland bounce back

Ireland Men stormed to a 38-run victory over Afghanistan in Sharjah on Friday thanks to superb performances from Harry Tector and Ben White.

Tector's fifth T20I half-century propelled Ireland to 149-6 batting first, the 24-year-old helping his side bulldoze 58 runs from the final five overs and give his bowlers a strong total to defend.

They did so in style, with White excelling on his first outing since the end of last summer. His four overs resulted in figures of 4-20, the Munster Reds leg-spinner ripping through the Afghan middle-order to stun the crowd and ensure Ireland went 1-0 up in the three match T20I series.

Returning from injury, White wasn't the only new face in the Irish ranks in terms of this tour; Josh Little also returned to the bowling attack alongside all-rounder Gareth Delany and left-hand batter Neil Rock (who came in after George Dockrell withdrew with illness).

The hosts, meanwhile, welcomed captain Rashid Khan into the fold for the first time since the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, following which he had back surgery. Khan's first point of business was to win the toss and put Ireland into bat.
Andrew Balbirnie (22) and skipper Paul Stirling (25) made a bright start, but Afghanistan's spinners soon came to the fore.

Following Balbirnie's dismissal, Lorcan Tucker became the first of two scalps for 19-year-old Nangeyalia Kharote either side of Khan removing Stirling and Curtis Campher with successive deliveries. He almost had a hat-trick when he ripped one past Rock, who fell to Kharote the following over.

Up stepped Tector to continue his fine form, taking Ireland to 149-6 from their 20 overs. Tector's innings came from just 34 deliveries and included seven fours and two sixes, with the Leinster Lightning batter plundering 18 from the final four deliveries of the innings.

That not only set Afghanistan a challenging looking 150 for victory, it shifted the match's momentum.

Ireland's total looked even more troubling for the hosts when Mark Adair removed the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz with the very first ball of the innings. Things got even better for Ireland the following over, Little striking twice in two deliveries to account for first Sediqullah Atal and then Azmatullah Omarzai to leave Afghanistan reeling at 6-3 after only two overs.

Ireland kept chipping away, with White and Barry McCarthy getting in on the act to further reduce Afghanistan to 50-5 inside nine overs. White became the third player of the match to be denied a hat-trick, dismissing Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and Kharote with back-to-back balls and then got rid of Mohammad Nabi.

Little also returned to claim a third to see the back of Khan, firmly marking the point of no return for Afghanistan. McCarthy cleaned things up by taking the final wicket, bowling Afghanistan out for 111 with eight balls to spare.

Ireland had lost the ODI campaign 2-0, which came hot on the heels of their historic first Test win that kicked off the tour a fortnight ago. They are now just one win away from clinching victory in the T20I series.

The second T20I takes place at the same venue on Sunday before Monday's third and final match.

MATCH SUMMARY
Afghanistan v Ireland, 1st T20I, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates -- 15 March 2024
Ireland 149-6 (20 overs; H Tector 56*, P Stirling 25, A Balbirnie 22; R Khan 3-19, N Kharote 2-16)
Afghanistan 111 (18.4 overs; M Ishaq 32, M Nabi 25; B White 4-20, J Little 3-18, B McCarthy 2-14)

Ireland Men fell to a 117-run defeat at the hands of Afghanistan this evening - a result that saw the hosts clinch a 2-0 ODI series victory in Sharjah.

The spin duo of experienced Mohammad Nabi (5-17) and 19-year-old debutant Nangeyalia Kharote (4-30) were the eventual stars with the ball for the hosts, who successfully defended their 237-run target by bowling Ireland all-out for 119 in 35 overs. Nabi had earlier made a crucial 48 with the bat before going on to claim the best figures of his international career.

Having narrowly lost the first ODI, and seen the second washed out, Ireland was looking to level the series in its third and final match before three T20Is begin later in the week.

Paul Stirling called correctly at the toss once again, opting to bowl first and naming one change to his side from the opening fixture, Barry McCarthy replacing Craig Young.

It was McCarthy who struck the first blow, removing opener Ibrahim Zadran (22) to end a 62-run partnership with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (51). That sparked a flurry of wickets, Afghanistan swiftly falling from 62-0 to 96-4.

A fifth-wicket recovery ensued, however, as the wise-heads of Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (69) and Nabi shared a 97-run stand until the latter picked out Harry Tector at long-on off the bowling of Theo van Woerkom.

Adair (3-51) and McCarty (2-42) delivered well-executed spells at the death to limit Afghanistan to 236-9 from their 50 overs.

Andrew Balbirnie fell early in the reply, but Stirling (50) and Curtis Campher (43) soon steadied the ship. Stirling had registered his highest score as captain in ODIs reaching a run-a-ball half-century - an innings that included four boundaries and two sixes. However, he was caught at long-off three balls later off the bowling of Nabi.

That ended a 73-run partnership for the second wicket which took Ireland to 77-2 halfway through the 18th over and with 160 runs required for victory. At that stage Ireland were still firmly in the contest, until Nabi and Kharote took a grip on proceedings.

Nabi accounted for both Tector and Lorcan Tucker in swift succession, five days after the pair made 138 and 85, respectively, at the same venue.

Kharote had Campher caught behind soon after, went on to bowl George Dockrell and then trap Adair leg-before-wicket in a superb spell of bowling that left Ireland stunned.

Nabi completed a maiden five-wicket haul in international cricket with a beauty that cleaned-up Andy McBrine and the series was wrapped up when McCarthy suffered the same fate at the hands of Kharote.

The two teams now play three T20Is at the same venue, starting Friday, 15 March.

MATCH SUMMARY
Afghanistan v Ireland, 2nd ODI, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates -- 12 March 2024
Afghanistan 236-9 (50 overs; H Shahidi 69, R Gurbaz 51, M Nabi 48; M Adair 3-51, B McCarthy 2-42)
Ireland 119-10 (35 overs; P Stirling 50, C Campher 43; M Nabi 5-17, N Kharote 4-30)
Afghanistan won by 35 runs

Tector heroics not enough as Ireland fall short in 1st ODI

A stunning century from Harry Tector wasn't quite enough to seal victory for Ireland Men in the first ODI of three against their Afghan counterparts in Sharjah on Thursday.

Tector's 138 from 147 deliveries contained nine fours and three sixes but, despite his heroics, the 24-year-old couldn't get Ireland over the line as they eventually came up 35-runs short of their hosts.

Chasing 311 runs for victory, it appeared Ireland would be a considerable way off their target after losing the top three batters early - first Paul Stirling caught behind for 5, then Andrew Balbirnie bowled for 4, followed by Curtis Campher also bowled, leaving the tourists wobbling at 34-3.

Enter Tector, who led the fightback with a 173-run stand for the fourth-wicket alongside Leinster Lightning teammate Lorcan Tucker. Tucker was the perfect foil but eventually fell for 85 from 76 deliveries shortly before his partner moved to three figures. The Ireland wicket-keeper hit eight fours and two sixes, marking his 50th ODI appearance with a new highest score of his own in this format.

Despite the departure of his club and country companion, Tector kept up the fight - battling both the Afghan attack and the onset of cramp as the game stretched late into the night. He scored all around the wicket before falling in the final over, having taken his side so close to what would have been a famous win.

Earlier, Ireland had made just two changes from the team that created history by winning the one-off Test between these two teams in Abu Dhabi six days ago, as George Dockrell and Graham Hume replaced Barry McCarthy and PJ Moor.

Captain Stirling won the toss and elected to field first in the Sharjah sun. It proved to be tough work in the heat, though, as Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran racked up 150 for the first wicket.

While the pair played the conditions perfectly, Ireland's bowlers remained disciplined throughout and Northern Knights spinner Theo van Woerkom eventually made the breakthrough, ripping one past Zadran (60) to bowl the right-hander with the final ball of the 31st-over.

Van Woerkom (3-55) was the pick of the Ireland bowlers and registered career-best international figures after bookending his 10th and final over by removing both Azmatullah Omarzai (19) and, crucially, the century-making Gurbaz (121).

The North West Warriors duo of Craig Young and Hume went on to strike further blows for Ireland but late hitting courtesy of Mohammad Nabi (40) and Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (50*) saw their side to 310-5 from their 50 overs.

Ultimately, it proved too many for the Irish.

The two sides return to the same venue on Saturday in the 2nd ODI, starting at 11.30am (Ireland time).

MATCH SUMMARY
Afghanistan 310-5 (50 overs; R Gurbaz 121, I Zadran 60, H Shahidi 50*; T van Woerkom 3-55)
Ireland 275-8 (50 overs; H Tector 138, L Tucker 85; F Farooqi 4-51)
Afghanistan won by 35 runs

Ireland Wolves set for Nepal tour

Ireland Wolves will travel later this month for an eight-match white ball tour – playing both the Nepal Men’s senior team and Nepal A in Kathmandu.

The tour will be led by Neil Rock, who has previously captained the Wolves.
The Ireland Wolves squad is:
Neil Rock (c), Ross Adair, Cade Carmichael, Gareth Delany, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Foster, Fionn Hand, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Tom Mayes, Liam McCarthy, James McCollum, PJ Moor, Morgan Topping, Ben White
The coaching staff will be:
Head coach: Ryan Eagleson
Assistant coaches: Pete Johnston and Chris Brown

The fixture schedule is:
24 March: Nepal Men v Ireland Wolves (1st T20)
25 March: Nepal Men v Ireland Wolves (2nd T20)
28 March: Nepal A v Ireland Wolves (1st T20)
29 March: Nepal A v Ireland Wolves (2nd T20)
31 March: Nepal A v Ireland Wolves (3rd T20)
3 April: Nepal A v Ireland Wolves (1st ODM)
5 April: Nepal A v Ireland Wolves (2nd ODM)
7 April: Nepal A v Ireland Wolves (3rd ODM)

The bulk of the squad will depart Dublin on 20 March, with a number of players who are currently part of the Ireland Men’s squad playing in the UAE flying directly from Dubai.

Richard Holdsworth, High Performance Director for Cricket Ireland, said:
“We’re delighted to have the Ireland Wolves back in action, and welcome the support of the Cricket Association of Nepal at hosting this first-ever tour of Nepal by an Irish representative team.
“The Wolves programme is the stepping stone to the senior international squad for many, and it is core to our talent pathway system. We look forward to not only playing some good cricket, but experiencing the famous energy and enthusiasm of the local fans.”