Tim Murtagh takes four wickets as Ireland beat Afghanistan in second ODI
Wednesday 29 August 2018 18:43, UK
Tim Murtagh took 4-30 as Ireland beat Afghanistan by three wickets in the second one-day international to level the three-match series at 1-1.
Three of Murtagh's wickets came in a devastating opening spell as Afghanistan slipped to 16-4 inside nine overs before recovering to post 182-9 in their 50 overs.
Andrew Balbirnie top-scored with 60 in the chase and despite the best efforts of Rashid Khan (3-37), Ireland got across the line with 6.1 overs to spare.
Murtagh trapped Mohammad Shahzad lbw in the first over of the match, bowled Hazratullah Zazai with the first ball of the third and made Gulbadin Naib his third victim two overs later as Ireland made a blistering start in Belfast.
Rahmat Shah (32), captain Asghar Afghan (39) and Najibullah Zadran (42) all played useful knocks to help the tourists post a more respectable total than looked likely at one stage but 182 still appeared some way below par.
Ireland lost skipper William Porterfield, bowled by spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1-41), in the first over of the reply but a stand of 69 between Paul Stirling (39) and Balbirnie helped calm any Irish nerves.
Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi (2-38) increased the pressure on Ireland through the middle overs but the hosts' lower order held firm and, although a couple of late wickets made for a slightly more tense finish, Simi Singh (36no) saw the side home in the 44th over.
Belfast is the venue again for Friday's series-deciding third ODI.
