Rashid Khan picked up five wickets in ten balls – with a triple-wicket maiden thrown in – as Afghanistan sealed a 17-run win (D/L method) over Ireland in the second of three Twenty20 Internationals at Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, the ICC reported.
 
After Afghanistan, which won the toss, made 184 for 8 in 20 overs, Ireland was 65 for 2 in 6.1 overs when rain intervened. Ireland was well ahead of the D/L par score of 53 for 2 at that stage, but when play resumed, it was given a revised target of 111 in 11 overs, meaning it had to score 46 in 29 balls.
 
Things unraveled pretty fast after that as Afghanistan picked up seven wickets in 18 balls and conceded only two fours in that duration, and Ireland finished on 93 for 9 in 11 overs.
 
Rashid, the 18-year-old leg-spinner, finished with career-best figures of 2-1-3-5 – the joint fourth best T20I bowling performance, as Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series and extended its longest unbeaten streak in the format to ten matches. Karim Janat, the right-arm medium pacer, supported Rashid well for returns of 3 for 24, while Najeeb Tarakai, who made 90 in 58 balls opening the innings, was the other hero for Afghanistan in the win.
 
Before the rain, Ireland was cruising with Paul Stirling and William Porterfield putting on 53 runs for the second wicket after Shapoor Zadran had accounted for Stuart Thompson early. Stirling, who hit four sixes and a four, fell just before the break when Janat bowled him with his sixth delivery. That tilted the equation in Afghanistan’s favour, but Ireland wouldn’t have expected to collapse the way it did when play resumed.
 
Janat sent Porterfield back, caught by Rashid at extra cover for 22 in 15 balls, and then Rashid got into the act. He took just three balls to strike for the first time when he bowled Kevin O’Brien with a tossed-up delivery. One ball later, he had Gary Wilson stumped as Ireland became 71 for 5 in 7.5 overs.
 
Janat then removed Andy McBrine before Rashid produced the triple-wicket over in which he accounted for Lorcan Tucker (first ball), Greg Thompson (fourth ball) and Barry McCarthy (fifth ball).
 
As much as the day belonged to Rashid and Janat, Tarakai, who added 54 runs with Samiullah Shenwari after Afghanistan was 12 for 2, played an equally significant role.
 
Tarakai also had stands of 49 and 57 with Janat for the fifth wicket and Mohammad Nabi for the sixth wicket respectively before falling off the first ball of the 20th over. His innings included seven fours and five sixes.
 
Nabi made a crucial 34 in 15 balls before becoming one of the three wickets to fall in the final over.
 
For Ireland, McCarthy, the debutant, was the most impressive with the ball. He finished with 4 for 33, which included two scalps in the final over. His effort, however, was not enough for Ireland to save the series.
 
The third match will be played at the same venue on Sunday.