The Irish, down trodden after 3 straight losses in this tournament to Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka twice, came up with a sterling performance with an unexpected turnaround beating tournament favourites Afghanistan ” A” at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abudhabi by 6 wickets and have boosted their run rate by getting to the target in 22.3 overs giving them an opportunity to play the finals depending on the results of the Afghanistan game against Sri Lanka tomorrow.
The equation is simple. With yesterday’s win, Ireland has a better run rate than hosts Afghanistan. If Afghanistan get undone by Sri Lanka tomorrow in the league game, they will be out of the finals.
Having the opportunity to talk to Sri Lanka’s premier cricket commentator Roshan Abeysinghe, he stated that the wicket did aid the bowlers, but it is not a pitch for a side batting first to be bowled out for 172 runs, that too in 35. 3 overs.
Afghanistan lost three quick wickets for 53 runs. Fair enough, they suffered a big blow with the departure of captain Darwish Rasool for no score batting up the order at number 3, a victim of Tom Mayer , hence panic set in the Afghanistan camp.
Opener Sadiqulain Attal held the innings together for his 75, but the middle order were muddled because the Afghan batters found run making difficult with 150 for 5 wickets in 27.5 overs, and surprisingly lost 5 wickets for 22 to be bowled out for 172 in 35.3 overs.
The top order damage was done by Tom Mayers, who took 3 for 47 , whilst Liam Mccarthy accounted for 2 scalps of the middle order batters conceeding 29 runs and Spinner Gavin Hoey who even troubled the Sri Lankan batters in the his last outing scalped the tail and top run scorer Sadiqullain Attal who made 75 to end his bowling effort in a miserly spell of 8.3 overs conceeding just 24 runs and taking 4 wickets.
173 as a target to get in 50 overs is a walk in the park. However, the mindset of reaching the goal with limited overs faced will boost the run rate of the Irish. The plan by the Irish batters, knowing very well, bat fearlessly, which they did by getting to the target in just 22.3 overs.
Stephen Doheny made 48, with Cade Camichael unbeaten on 75. The opening pair stitched a partnership of 98 in 12. 5 overs that paved the way to victory for the Irish in 22.3 overs.
Afghanistan is replaced from the 2nd place in the points table to 3rd place as Ireland with a superior run rate get ahead of them.