On Saturday (23 February), Afghanistan secured the T20I series against Ireland after winning the second T20I at Dehradun. With this victory, Afghanistan has taken the 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series with one to go.
After winning the toss, Afghanistan put a huge total on the board. They scored 278/3 in 20 overs, thanks to the opener Hazratullah Zazai’s unbeaten 162-run knock. In reply, Ireland only managed to score 194/6 as Afghanistan won the match by 84 runs.
Brief Score: Afghanistan – 278/3 in 20 overs (Hazratullah Zazai 162*, Usman Ghani 73; Boyd Rankin 1/35)
Ireland – 194/6 in 20 overs (Paul Stirling 91, Kevin O’Brien 37; Rashid Khan 4/25)
Result – Afghanistan won by 84 runs
Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:
(1st innings)
Afghanistan Partnership
i) Afghanistan batsmen Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani provided a 236-run partnership for the opening wicket.
- It is the highest T20I partnership for any wicket. The previous record was 223 between D’Arcy Short and Aaron Finch (Australia) for the opening wicket against Zimbabwe at Harare on 3 July 2018.
- It is the highest T20 partnership for any wicket. The previous record was 229 between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore) for the second wicket against Gujarat Lions at Bengaluru on 14 May 2016.
Hazratullah Zazai
ii) Afghanistan batsman Hazratullah Zazai completed his maiden T20I century in just 42 balls.
- It was the third fastest century in T20I history.
| Player (Team) | No.of balls taken to complete the century | Opposition | Venue | Date |
| David Miller (South Africa) | 35 | Bangladesh | Potchefstroom | 29 October 2017 |
| Rohit Sharma (India) | 35 | Sri Lanka | Indore | 22 December 2017 |
| Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan) | 42 | Ireland | Dehradun | 23 February 2019 |
| Richard Levi (South Africa) | 45 | New Zealand | Hamilton | 19 February 2012 |
| Faf du Plessis (South Africa) | 46 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 11 January 2015 |
| KL Rahul (India) | 46 | West Indies | Lauderhill | 27 August 2016 |
iii) Afghanistan batsman Hazratullah Zazai was not out on 162 runs.
- It was the second highest individual score in T20I history. The record is 172 by Aaron Finch (Australia) against Zimbabwe at Harare on 3 July 2018.
- It was the joint third highest individual score in T20 history.
iv) Hazratullah Zazai hit 16 sixes in that innings.
- He is the first batsman to hit 16 sixes in a T20I match. The previous record was 14 sixes by Aaron Finch against England at Southampton on 29 August 2013.
- He is the fifth batsman to hit 16 or more sixes in a T20 match.
Afghanistan
v) Afghanistan scored 278/3 in 20 overs.
- It is the highest total in a T20I. The previous record was 263/3 by Australia against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on 6 September 2016.
- It is the highest total in T20 cricket history. The previous record was 263/3 for twice. Royal Challengers Bangalore (against Pune Warriors India at Bengaluru on 23 April 2013) and Australia (against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on 6 September 2016) had scored those once each.
vi) Afghanistan hit 22 sixes in their innings.
- It is the most number of sixes hit by a team in a T20I innings. The previous record was 21 for twice (West Indies and India had hit 21 sixes once each).
- It was the second most number of sixes in a T20 innings. The record is 23 by Balkh Legends against Kabul Zwanan at Sharjah on 14 October 2018.
(2nd innings)
Ireland Partnership
i) Ireland openers Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien had a 126-run partnership.
- It is the highest T20I partnership for any wicket for Ireland. Their previous record was the 115-run partnership for the opening wicket by the same partner against Scotland at Al Amerat on 15th February 2019.
Paul Stirling
ii) Ireland opener Paul Stirling scored 91 runs.
- It is the highest T20I individual score by an Ireland batsman. The previous record holder was Andy Balbirnie with 83 runs against the Netherlands at Al Amerat on 17 February 2019.
Ireland
iii) Ireland scored 194/6 in 20 overs.
- It was Ireland’s fifth largest T20I total.
Match aggregate
iv) The match-aggregate score was 472 runs (472/9).
- It was the third highest match aggregate score in T20I history. The top two records in this list are 489 runs between India and West Indies at Lauderhill on 27 August 2016 and 488 runs between Australia and New Zealand at Auckland on 16 February 2018.
Match Result
v) Afghanistan beat Ireland by 84 runs.
- It was the second largest T20I victory (by runs) for Afghanistan. Their largest T20I victory (by runs) is by 106 runs against Kenya at Sharjah on 30 September 2013.
- It was the second largest T20I defeat (by runs) for Ireland. Their largest T20I defeat (by runs) is by 143 runs against India at Dublin (Malahide) on 29 June 2018.
Consecutive wins
vi) It was Afghanistan’s ninth consecutive T20I victory.
- It was the joint second most consecutive T20I victories for a team (Pakistan had also won nine consecutive T20Is in 2018). Afghanistan is also the record holder with 11 consecutive T20I victories from 27 March 2016 to 12 March 2017.