The shortest format of the game always provides entertainment of the highest order and it has been nothing different than that when two of the associate nations met in the 2nd T20 game of a three-match series in Greater Noida.
Afghanistan lead Ireland 1-0 in the series going into this game and a record-breaking spell from 18-year old Rashid Khan saw them go 2-0 up in this series.
Having won the toss, Afghanistan chose to bat and though they lost wickets at regular intervals, a superb innings from Najeeb Tarakai 90 (58b) and late hitting from Mohammad Nabi 34 (15b) saw them set a target of 184 in 20 overs.
Ireland started the chase in fine fashion and raced to 66-2 in just 6.1 overs when the game was interrupted by rain.
Ireland were set a target of 111 in 11 overs after the game resumed but Rashid Khan came up with a record-breaking spell to take Afghanistan home.
He picked up the wickets of Barry McCarthy 0 (1b), Greg Thompson 1 (4b), Lorcan Tucker 9 (6b), Gary Wilson 1 (2b) and Kevin O Brien 5 (8) on his way to a spell of 5-3 in just 1.5 overs on the night.
These figures are the best for a player from an associate nation and will also be remembered for giving Afghanistan their 10th consecutive unbeaten game.
Afghanistan have gone 10 games unbeaten in international T20s which is a record and Twitter showed its interest in this game with some witty tweets:
Here is a collection of the best tweets from this game:
Rashid Khan's two overs –
1 1 W 1 W 0
W 0 0 W W 1bAfghanistan beat Ireland by 17 runs (D/L) in 2nd #AFGvIRE T20Ihttps://t.co/ziS6ZhAXTP pic.twitter.com/98U9BYS91c
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 10, 2017
out standing young man keep it up.
— Hashmat (@hashmat71714) March 10, 2017
looking forward for this kid to play in the IPL.
— बेरोजगार (@Deepen33) March 10, 2017
Afghanistan are currently on the longest winning streak in T20I cricket history, but are Ireland about to break it? #howzstat #AfgvIre pic.twitter.com/PFFFjyTYNV
— ICC (@ICC) March 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/steve_irving/status/840162054015090688
https://twitter.com/jeevan1257/status/840158921469919234
Rashid Khan again!! What a player he has turned out to be, will only get better from here. 5/3 that is absolutely incredible stuff ?
— Romi? (@romiwrites) March 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/ChillingMir/status/840194734501031936
how bullshit is D/L method has been proved here,@ACBofficials won by just 14runs(D/L method)@Irelandcricket 93/9 chasing 185 seriously
— susheel vyas (@im_svyas) March 10, 2017