Irfan ends up as a loser despite breaking T20 bowling record

Mohammad Irfan set a record for the most economical bowling figures in a T20 game – and still ended up on the losing side.

The Pakistan seamer took two wickets for just one run from his four overs for Barbados Tridents against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

The solitary run the 7ft 1in bowler did concede came off the final ball of his spell and seemed to have set the Tridents on course for victory as they looked to defend their total of 147 for six from their 20 overs.

But despite Irfan taking the wickets of both Chris Gayle – to a first-ball duck – and Evin Lewis, the Patriots eased to a six-wicket victory with seven balls to spare, although the record-breaker was still content with his night’s work.

“I’m really happy. I would’ve been happier if the team won, but I am happy that I bowled one of the best spells in T20 cricket,” he said. “I liked bowling on the lively wicket, and I get an extra bounce because of my height, so yes, a satisfying performance.”

Meanwhile, Ireland captain William Porterfield has challenged his frontline batsmen to get to grips with Rashid Khan and lay the foundation for a one-day series win over Afghanistan.

The sides play the first of three 50-over contests at Stormont today, with the hosts looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat in the T20 leg of the tour.

Rashid was a central performer in the sprint format, living up to his world No 1 status with combined figures of seven for 52, and Porterfield says his side need to come up with an answer to the teenager.

“He’s a very good bowler, he’s right up there at the top of both formats for a reason,” he said. “The more you play against someone the more you get to deal [with them], you’ve got to evolve your game and play him well, just as he keeps looking to evolve his.

“If, come the end, he hasn’t had a successful week in the end column then I think we will have had a successful week.

“The top order has to perform, it’s our job to put a total on the board. If you expose the tail to Rashid he’s going to have one over on them, but if we minimise the wickets he gets in that top seven, a lot of games we’ll come out on top.”