Rain did not dampen Afghanistan’s win against Ireland

Hazratullah Zazai’s blistering half-century set Afghanistan up for a 16-run win against Ireland in a rainreduced first T20I at Bready.

Zazai, in his second T20I, scored his country’s fastest 50 in the format and finished with 74 from 33 deliveries as the tourists posted 160 for seven from their 18 overs.

Ireland lost regular wickets, with Rashid Khan taking three for 35 as Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the threematch series.

Ireland elected to bowl after an hour delay due to rain, but Zazai soon took charge.

The 20-year-old scored 23 runs off the fifth over bowled by Tyrone Kane, including three sixes, the second of which saw him bring up a 22-ball halfcentury. He fell in the eighth over when he attempted a sweep but could only edge Simi Singh behind, with the score 87 for one.

Afghanistan reached 140 for two with four overs left but ended 160 for seven as Ireland’s bowlers fought back, led by Joshua Little’s two for 20.

But the total proved more than enough as Ireland finished 144 for nine, with captain Gary Wilson top-scoring with a 23-ball 34 while George Dockrell ended 22 not out.

Mohammad Abbas took his best figures for Leicestershire but Kent fought back on day two to leave their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match in the balance.

The Pakistan seamer took full advantage of the heavy cloud and a used pitch at Grace Road to finish with six for 48 as Kent were bowled out for 195. But the visitors responded strongly, with Ivan Thomas taking four for 50 as the Foxes ended the day on 126 for five, a lead of 151 with five second-innings wickets in hand.

Resuming with Kent on 53 for three, Joe Denly and Sam Billings were made to work hard for their runs as the ball continued to swing and nip off the pitch.

Abbas had beaten Billings on numerous occasions before he found the edge of the Kent captain’s bat and Ned Eckersley held an outstanding low catch diving to his right behind the stumps.

Zak Crawley went the same way, feathering a thin edge off Abbas to give Eckersley a more comfortable catch and reduce the visitors to 100 for five.

Denly was joined by debutant Ollie Robinson in building a substantial partnership for the sixth wicket.