From the ICC T20 - Day 1 - Afghanistan v Ireland




	Afghanistan's Karim Sadiq

	3.08 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Man of the Match yet to be announced but it's likely to be Afghanistan's Nabi isn't it? Karim Sadiq who also did his part is generous in his praise for his colleague, "Nabi's innings was the turning point, and my bowling too," he says with a grin!

	3.02 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland And clean bowls John Mooney the next! AFGHANISTAN HAVE WON BY 13 RUNS! Their fans are ecstatic. The players are ecstatic! Good, gripping match.

	3.01 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland And it looks like he won't. Runs out a batsman himself after the first ball.

	2.59 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Last over. Ireland want 14. Two wickets in hand. Hamid to bowl. He can't give away 14!

	2.59 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Every dot ball being cheered by the Afghan fans.

	2.56 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Good over by Sami, and drops a hard caught and bowled chance off the last ball. Johnston survives. Only three off the over and Ireland need 20 off 2.

	2.54 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Ireland 117 for 7. Need 23 off 18. Sami Shenwari and his leg-spin back on.

	2.48 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Four overs to go. Ireland need 30. Afghanistan have 3 wickets to get. Trent Johnston, 12 off 7, the Irish danger man.

	2.43 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Ireland 100 for 7 after 15, needing 40 off 30.

	2.37 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Nabi, whose first over went for 11, gets in on the act trapping Gary Wilson. Ireland 98 for 7 now and needing something special if they're to get 42 off 33.

	2.37 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Run-out! Hamid creates the pressure and fields the throw from mid-on and runs out Alex Cusack (15 off 13 balls). Ireland in trouble at 91 for 6 with 39 balls left to get 49 runs.

	2.30 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Hamid breaks through! His fifth ball beats Paul Stirling for pace, late on the shot the ball spoons up to mid-on. Ireland 78 for 5 after 11.5. They need 62 off 49 at just under 8 an over. Afghanistan have the edge.

	2.28 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Hamid Hassan, Afghanistan's main strike bowler replaces Sami Shinwari. Nowroz Mangal looking to break Ireland's innings. Hamid beats Stirling outside off with his second ball.

	2.24 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Ten overs gone, Ireland need 72 more to win. The game very much in the balance. Supporters on both sides, quiet, tense, hopeful.

	2.18 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Karim strikes again! 8 runs off the over, until the last ball which gets Kevin O'Brien's leading edge and Nowroz Mangal catches it at mid-off looking into the sun. Ireland 63 for 4 after 9 overs.

	2.13 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland The drums are being beaten again, and 'Afghanistan zindabad' rings out. Ireland 55 for 3 after 8 overs.

	2.09 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland And his sixth! And does a cartwheel to celebrate! Ireland 52 for 3 after 7 overs. And Afghanistan are right back in it.

	2.08 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland And he gets a wicket with his fourth ball!

	2.06 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Spin on early with Karim Sadiq, at the start of the 7th over. Ireland 49 for 1.

	2.02 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Ireland 41 for 1 after 5 overs. Shahpour's 3 overs have gone for 31.

	1.51 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland And the last ball of Shahpour's over, slower, deliberate or otherwise, is mistimed into mid-on's hands. Ireland 22 for 1 after 3. Game evenly poised still. "One more wicket, come on" is the cry of Karim Sadiq.

	1.46 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Shahpour looks a bit out of sorts, a little stiff in his walk back to his mark.

	1.46 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Left-hander William Porterfield hits Ireland's first 6 and then repeats the stroke off left-arm pacer Shahpour Zadran, the ball sailing over square leg both times. Ireland 20 for 0 off 2.2 overs.


	Mohammad Nabi © ICC

	1.28 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Nabi slams the last ball between long-off and long-on, almost decapitating the umpire on the way, and Afghanistan finish on 139 for 8 off their 20. Nabi's 43 took 25 balls with three 4s and two 6s.

	1.18 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Last over coming up, Afghanistan 131 for 8.. Nabi 36* off 20.

	1.08 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Raees Ahmadzai is palmed over the mid-wicket boundary and Afghanistan are 113 for 6 after 17 overs.

	1.08 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland It's all happening. Sami Shinwari is run-out taking a tight single to mid-on and then Nabi powers a drive on the up through long-on. Afghanistan 102 for 6 off 16. 140 would be good from now in. There are about a dozen Irish fans singing in the stands now.

	1.02 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Nowroz hits a 6 two balls later, but is bowled next ball going for another one. Afghanistan 93-5 off 14.5 overs.

	1.01 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Nabi hits his fourth ball, off SLA George Dockrell into the second tier of the stands. And does the same next ball. What a player!

	12.56 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Boundaries have dried up for Afghanistan. And now there's a great catch at square leg to see the end of Noor Ali for 42 off 44. Afghanistan 69 for 4 at the start of the 14th and Mohammad Nabi comes out to bat. He could turn the match Afghanistan's way.

	12.47 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Shahzad, fingertip-dropped at mid-off takes one, then two but in coming back for the second doesn't give it the full-on sprint as is run-out by an excellent direct-hit from the deep. Afghanistan 61 for 3 in the 11th and a partnership of 47 off 42 balls ends. Captain Nowroz Mangal at the crease. Destructive of anything short.



	12.45 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland The drums are banging now! Afghanistan 57 for 2 after 10 and Noor Ali and chunky Mohammad Shahzad enjoying a good partnership here.

	12.34 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland The Afghan drums are beating as the crowd builds beside a giant Afghan flag.

	12.27 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Two boundaries in that 6th over, both to Noor Ali and the momentum may just be swinging back Afghanistan's way. 33 for 2 after 6 overs. Nowroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi and Raees Ahmadzai left. They'll have quite a bit to do along with the two at the crease to get Afghanistan to 150. Ireland bowling well.

	12.24 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Noor Ali's dropped at first slip off one that climbed from Peter Connell. Afghanistan 23 for 2 after 5.

	12.22 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland Noor Ali shows his class with a peerless straight drive on the up. Afghanistan 21 for 2, 4.1 overs.

	12.18 PM, Dubai: Shafiqullah's caught in the deep and the initial roars of the 40-strong Afghan crowd as the ball flew of the bat are silenced.

	12.11 PM, Dubai: Afghanistan taking tight singles. They want to get to 50 off the first 6 overs with the field in but after 15 balls they've only got 8. It's going to be a tight old game.

	12.06 PM, Dubai: Trent Johnston gets one to zip off the pitch and Karim's bowled. Afghan dressing-room very quiet. Shafiqulla Shafaq, a hitter among hitters, comes out to bat.

	12.04 PM, Dubai: Karim ends the first over with a thumping pull through midwicket. There's bounce in the wicket.

	12.00 PM, Dubai: Game on! Noor Ali and Karim Sadiq walk to the crease...


	11.45 AM, Dubai: Afghanistan v Ireland - Ireland have won the toss and have asked Afghanistan to bat. Afghanistan don't look disappointed, it looks a like a good batting wicket.

	11.43 AM, Dubai: Teams's warm-up routines and knock-downs progressing. Both look intense and yet relaxed. Game starts in 17 minutes. Afghanistan's Karim Sadiq knocking up in front of me and timing the ball well.

	11.07 AM, Dubai: Afghanistan and UAE both warming up at Dubai Sports City's amazing stadium. Outfield looks like lush green velvet. Wicket is tinged with green.

	10.05 AM, Dubai: The Afghan team and a few administrators are gathering in the hotel lobby, looking positive. They really think they have a good chance.

	9.54 AM, Dubai: UAE Emirates Cricket Board Administrator Mazhar Khan says "it's a very open tournament and it's difficult to predict who's going to win. UAE team are all playing well. I've seen them and the other teams in the nets so I think they've got a good chance." The UAE take on Kenya, the evergreen Steve Tikolo and all at Abu Dhabi at 2PM local time. One man a team does not make; if all of the UAE chip in they should indeed win it.


	9.32 AM, Dubai: The Afghan team have all had breakfast, some have been up since 5.30 for their morning prayers. Some of them are carrying injuries but everyone in the first XI's going to play. The bus will leave the hotel for Dubai Sports City at 10.30 for the match against Ireland which starts at noon (0800 GMT). A win for either sets them up nicely.