Match Centre

Squad

Commentator: Justin Smyth

4pm: So, we say goodbye to Bready and next week we will be moving to Belfast to start the 3-match ODI series at Stormont. The first game in on Monday, starting at 10:45am, so I'm hoping that you will join me then. This is Justin saying goodbye.

Whilst its not raining, the two teams are going out to have a presentation, hand over the trophy and announce the player of the series. Unsurprisingly Hazratullah Zazai has won that player of the series award for his two fantastic innings.

3:45pm: Bad news from the middle I'm afraid. After all the rain that we have had, the Umpire's have had a look and have decided that there is no chance of drying out in time to even have a 5-over game. It even looks like there is more rain on the way. Shame.

3:17pm: Guess it's all eyes to the skies to see what happens yet, the toss is supposed to be only 15 minutes away, although seeing that the covers are still on, we aren't going to be starting on time today. In fact we have just heard that the Umpire's are going to be heading out to have a look at the ground at 3:30pm. So hopefully I'll have some news then…..

3:15pm Good afternoon and welcome to the third and final T20I between Ireland and Afghanistan, its Justin Smyth here again and I will hopefully be bringing you ball by ball commentary of today's game.

I say hopefully because it does look like the weather has decided that it needed to get involved, its been raining on and off since yesterday and it's a balmy 13 degrees here at the ground, aren't we glad that cricket is a summer sport eh?

Afghanistan have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after Wednesday's 81 run victory, no hammering, of Ireland. Hazratullah Zazai's clean hitting powered Afghanistan to an impressive 160, then the bowlers got to work. The Ireland batsmen had no answer to Mujeeb, Nabi and especially Rashid, a very impressive spinning trio. I'm sure that they will be hoping that the weather clears, allowing them to go on the attack again today to see if the can get the clean sweep.

For Ireland, it safe to say that Wednesday's batting was a bit of a horror show, losing the in-form Paul Stirling so early meant that they didn't know whether to stick or twist. Both teams found themselves at 8 for 2, yet where Afghanistan put on a 116-run partnership for the third wicket, Ireland's biggest partnership was only 35. Wonder if they will get a chance to put that right today?