Cricket

Afghanistan vs Ireland in UAE 2024

Ahead of IPL 2024, Afghanistan T20I captain Rashid Khan warmed up nicely with eight wickets in the three-T20I series against Ireland to jump four places in ICC T20I bowler rankings.

Afghanistan T20I captain in action against Ireland (Getty Images)

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After 8 wickets in comeback series against Ireland, Rashid Khan enters top 10 ICC T20I bowlers rankings

Paul Sterling became first male batter to hammer 400 fours in T20 Internationals leaving behind Babar Azam in doing so. He achieved this feat during Ireland vs Afghanistan's 1st T20I.

From left: Pakistan's Babar Azam, Ireland's Paul Sterling, India's Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in this frame. (Getty)

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Neither Virat Kohli, nor Babar Azam or Rohit Sharma! Ireland's Paul Sterling becomes 1st ever batter to clock this mega milestone in T20Is

Afghanistan T20I captain <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/rashid-khan-cricket-afghanistan">Rashid Khan</a> made a spectacular return to international cricket after recovering from back surgery. In the three-T20I series against Ireland, Rashid picked up eight wickets from three games and was rewarded for performances with a rise in T20I bowler rankings. The leg-spinner jumped four places to reach the ninth spot. Rashid has 645 rating points, the same as <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/mitchell-santner-cricket-new-zealand">Mitchell Santner</a> who moved one place up.&nbsp; &nbsp;<h2>Rashid’s spectacular comeback</h2>In his comeback game after three months, Rashid picked up three wickets but in a losing cause. In the second T20I, he took four wickets for 14 runs and broke the record for best bowling figures by an Afghanistan captain in the format. The record belonged to <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/nawroz-mangal-cricket-afghanistan">Nawroz Mangal</a> who got three wickets from 19 runs. He contributed with a 12-ball 25 cameo as Afghanistan won the game by 10 runs.&nbsp; &nbsp;In the third and final T20I of the series, he picked up one wicket but conceded just 12 runs from his quota of four overs. Afghanistan registered a comprehensive win to win the series 2-1. Rashid was adjudged the ‘Player of the Series’.<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Vintage <a href="https://twitter.com/rashidkhan_19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RashidKhan_19</a>! 🤩⚡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfghanAtalan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfghanAtalan</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFGvIRE2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AFGvIRE2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/tM8MQCdytJ">pic.twitter.com/tM8MQCdytJ</a>— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACBofficials/status/1769442103216554003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He will be in action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Gujarat Titans (GT) will start their IPL 2024 campaign against Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 24. &nbsp;There were no other changes in the top 10. <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/adil-rashid-cricket-england">Adil Rashid</a> is on the top with 726 rating points, way ahead of second-placed <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/wanindu-hasaranga-cricket-sri-lanka">Wanindu Hasaranga</a> who has 687 rating points. There are two Indian bowlers in the top 10. <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/axar-patel-cricket-india">Axar Patel</a> is ranked fourth followed by <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/ravi-bishnoi-cricket-india">Ravi Bishnoi</a> in sixth.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/r-ashwin-names-gautam-gambhir-as-ms-dhoni-biggest-nemesis-for-ipl-2024-says-he-has-posed-a-good-threat-to-csk">R Ashwin names MS Dhoni's biggest nemesis for IPL 2024, says ‘he has posed a good threat to CSK’</a> &nbsp;<h2>Surya on top, Gurbaz slips after poor series</h2>There were no changes in the top 10 ICC batter rankings. <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/suryakumar-yadav-cricket-india">Suryakumar Yadav</a> is sitting uncontested at the top with 861 rating points, 59 more than second-ranked <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/philip-salt-cricket-england">Phil Salt</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batter <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/rahmanullah-gurbaz-cricket-afghanistan">Rahmanullah Gurbaz</a> slipped four places to the 22nd spot after managing to score just nine runs in the T20I series against Ireland.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/ipl-2024-hardik-pandya-press-conference-finally-opens-up-on-huge-backlash-received-from-fans-after-replacing-rohit-sharma-as-mumbai-indians-captain">IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya finally opens up on huge backlash received from fans after replacing Rohit Sharma as captain, says ‘I control the...’</a> &nbsp;<h2>Shakib still on top</h2>There was one change in the top 10 all-rounders' rankings. Namibia's JJ Smit slipped one place to 11th, just below <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/shadab-khan-cricket-pakistan">Shadab Khan</a>. The top spot is occupied by Bangladesh's veteran all-rounder <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/shakib-al-hasan-cricket-bangladesh">Shakib Al Hasan</a>. &nbsp;MORE ON SPORTS TAK:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/ms-dhoni-plays-his-iconic-helicopter-shot-during-csk-practice-ahead-of-ipl-2024-internet-erupts-with-excitement-after-video-goes-viral">WATCH: MS Dhoni rolls back the clock and plays his iconic helicopter shot during CSK practice; internet erupts with excitement after video goes viral</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/ms-dhoni-smashes-massives-sixes-including-one-handed-six-during-csk-practice-match-at-chepauk-video-surfaces-ipl-2024">WATCH: MS Dhoni smashes massive sixes, including a one-handed six, during CSK practice match at Chepauk; video surfaces</a>

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After 8 wickets in comeback series against Ireland, Rashid Khan enters top 10 T20I bowlers in ICC Rankings

Ireland's captain <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/paul-stirling-cricket-ireland">Paul Stirling</a> achieved a remarkable feat during the first T20I match against Afghanistan on March 15 in Sharjah. He became the first batter in history to smash 400 fours in T20 Internationals. This puts him in a league of his own, with the likes of Babar Azam and Virat Kohli trailing behind.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/delhi-capitals-announce-jake-fraser-mcgurk-as-lungi-ngidi-replacement-for-ipl-2024-rishabh-pant">Delhi Capitals announce 29-ball centurion as Lungi Ngidi's replacement for IPL 2024</a>&nbsp;<h2>Paul Stirling first to hit 400 fours</h2>Stirling's knock of 25 runs on Friday included two boundaries, helping him cross the coveted 400-four mark. &nbsp;He has now accumulated a total of 401 fours in his 135 T20I appearances. &nbsp;Following closely behind is former Pakistan captain, <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/babar-azam-cricket-pakistan">Babar Azam</a>, with 395 fours in 109 T20Is. &nbsp;Rounding out the top five are Indian batsmen <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/virat-kohli-cricket-india">Virat Kohli</a> (361 fours in 117 matches) and <a href=" https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/rohit-sharma-cricket-india" target="_blank">Rohit Sharma</a> (359 fours in 151 matches). Australian opener David Warner also finds a place on this list with 320 fours in 103 T20I innings.&nbsp;<h2>Batsmen with most fours in T20Is</h2>&nbsp;<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Players</td><td>Fours</td><td>Matches</td></tr><tr><td>Paul Stirling</td><td>401</td><td>135</td></tr><tr><td>Babar Azam</td><td>395</td><td>109</td></tr><tr><td>Virat Kohli</td><td>361</td><td>117</td></tr><tr><td>Rohit Sharma</td><td>359</td><td>151</td></tr><tr><td>David Warner</td><td>320</td><td>103</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>&nbsp;Talking about the match, Ireland won the toss and elected to bat first in the first T20I against Afghanistan. They got off to a decent start, reaching 48 runs for the loss of just one wicket during the powerplay overs. However, the tide turned when Afghanistan's star spinner, <a target="_blank" href="https://m.thesportstak.com/playerstats/cricket/rashid-khan-cricket-afghanistan">Rashid Khan</a>, entered the attack. Khan bagged two quick wickets, leaving Ireland at a precarious 66/4 after 10.3 overs.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/ajinkya-rahane-breaks-silence-on-shreyas-iyer-ishan-kishan-bcci-central-contract-snub-a-day-after-ranji-trophy-title-triumph">Ajinkya Rahane breaks silence on Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan's BCCI central contract snub a day after Ranji Trophy title triumph</a>&nbsp;Just when things were looking shaky, Harry Tector stepped up for Ireland with a well-composed unbeaten knock of 56 runs. Thanks to Tector's efforts, Ireland managed to set a modest target of 150 runs for Afghanistan to chase in their 20 overs. Afghanistan's chase got off to a disastrous start. They lost their top 3 batsmen within the first 2 overs for a mere 4 runs on the board. Irish pacer Josh Little was the wrecker-in-chief, taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries during the second over. Afghanistan never really recovered from this early collapse and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.Ireland's spin attack, led by Ben White, also played a crucial role in restricting Afghanistan. White picked up a four-wicket haul for just 20 runs, dismantling the Afghan batting order. Eventually, Afghanistan were bundled out for a paltry 111 runs, handing Ireland a convincing 38-run victory. Ben White was deservedly adjudged the Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling performance. The focus now shifts to the second T20I of the series, scheduled for Sunday, March 17.&nbsp;MORE ON SPORTS TAK:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/sri-lanka-cricket-appoints-aaqib-javed-as-national-team-fast-bowling-coach-until-2024-t20-world-cup">Sri Lanka Cricket appoints former Pakistan World Cup-winning speedster as national team's fast bowling coach until 2024 T20 World Cup</a><a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/pathum-nissanka-century-charith-asalanka-91-help-sri-lanka-level-series-1-1-beat-bangladesh-by-3-wickets-thrilling-2nd-odi">BAN vs SL: Nissanka's century, Asalanka's 91 help Sri Lanka level series 1-1, beat Bangladesh by 3 wickets in thrilling 2nd ODI</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://thesportstak.com/cricket-news/najmul-hossain-shanto-century-steers-bangladesh-to-emphatic-6-wicket-victory-over-sri-lanka-in-1st-odi">Najmul Hossain Shanto's historic century steers Bangladesh to emphatic 6-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in 1st ODI</a>

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