The margin of defeat was five wickets as the Afghans passed their target of 134 with three balls to spare.
That didn’t look likely as a disciplined Irish attack had reduced them to 71 for 4 with just six overs remaining. Gary Kidd bowled the 15th, and from his first ball Asghar Stanikzai was dropped by Nigel Jones on the long on boundary – a hard chance, but what made it worse for Kidd was the fact that it was parried over the boundary rope for six.
From that point on, the momentum was with the Afghans, and Stanikzai (39*), in conjunction with Mohammed Nabi (28*) shared a match winning stand of 66 in just six overs to take their side to the brink of victory.
Nabi fell to Alex Cusack with just two runs needed, Jones atoning for his earlier miss with a well judged catch in the deep, but by that stage the game was virtually lost. Stankizai also benefited from a misjudgement by Peter Connell on the midwicket boundary – Andre Botha the unlucky bowler.
George Dockrell (2-23) again impressed with the ball, while Trent Johnston (1-14) was by far the most economical of the Irish bowlers.
If Stanikzai was the beneficiary of Irish generosity in the field, then the same applied to John Mooney, who made the most of an early reprieve to top score with 42 from 33 balls, hitting three powerful sixes.
Ireland badly needed his let off as they had been reduced to 32 for five by an inspired spell from Dalwat Ahmadzai (4-15). He dismissed skipper William Porterfield with the second ball of the game, and followed that up by taking a stunning return catch to remove Paul Stirling. Alex Cusack lost his middle stump playing on, and Kevin O’Brien mistimed a drive to mid-on.
Gary Wilson made 32 from 26 balls (3 fours), as he and Mooney shared a 6th wicket stand of 79 in nine overs, rscuing Ireland from the abyss. Trent Johnston hit 16 from 13 balls down the order, but a total of 133 looked below par.
It ultimately was, but only thanks to the late fireworks from Stanikzai and Nabi.
Ireland now have to lift themselves for a clash on the opening day with hosts West Indies, while for Afghanistan, the little matter of India and South Africa await them.
That didn’t look likely as a disciplined Irish attack had reduced them to 71 for 4 with just six overs remaining. Gary Kidd bowled the 15th, and from his first ball Asghar Stanikzai was dropped by Nigel Jones on the long on boundary – a hard chance, but what made it worse for Kidd was the fact that it was parried over the boundary rope for six.
From that point on, the momentum was with the Afghans, and Stanikzai (39*), in conjunction with Mohammed Nabi (28*) shared a match winning stand of 66 in just six overs to take their side to the brink of victory.
Nabi fell to Alex Cusack with just two runs needed, Jones atoning for his earlier miss with a well judged catch in the deep, but by that stage the game was virtually lost. Stankizai also benefited from a misjudgement by Peter Connell on the midwicket boundary – Andre Botha the unlucky bowler.
George Dockrell (2-23) again impressed with the ball, while Trent Johnston (1-14) was by far the most economical of the Irish bowlers.
If Stanikzai was the beneficiary of Irish generosity in the field, then the same applied to John Mooney, who made the most of an early reprieve to top score with 42 from 33 balls, hitting three powerful sixes.
Ireland badly needed his let off as they had been reduced to 32 for five by an inspired spell from Dalwat Ahmadzai (4-15). He dismissed skipper William Porterfield with the second ball of the game, and followed that up by taking a stunning return catch to remove Paul Stirling. Alex Cusack lost his middle stump playing on, and Kevin O’Brien mistimed a drive to mid-on.
Gary Wilson made 32 from 26 balls (3 fours), as he and Mooney shared a 6th wicket stand of 79 in nine overs, rscuing Ireland from the abyss. Trent Johnston hit 16 from 13 balls down the order, but a total of 133 looked below par.
It ultimately was, but only thanks to the late fireworks from Stanikzai and Nabi.
Ireland now have to lift themselves for a clash on the opening day with hosts West Indies, while for Afghanistan, the little matter of India and South Africa await them.
