Stirling, Balbirnie help Ireland level ODI series

DEHRADUN: Half-centuries by Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie helped Ireland to a five-wicket series-levelling win over Afghanistan in the fifth and final one-day international on Sunday.Chasing a modest 217, Ireland depended on a 81-run second wicket stand between Stirling and Balbirnie to achieve their target in 47.2 overs as the series ended at 2-2 in Dehradun.The second ODI was washed out. Left-arm spinner Geroge Dockrell led a disciplined bowling attack to set up the win as Ireland kept down Afghanistan to 216 for six after being put into bat first. Stirling top-scored with 70 and Balbirnie made a patient 68 to drive a tricky chase for Ireland in a hard-fought series that comes after their whitewash in the two Twenty20 matches. Left-arm wrist spinner Zahir Khan took two wickets including skipper William Porterfield for 17.Leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who made an unbeaten 35 with the bat, trapped Stirling lbw but Balbirnie stood firm during a 46-run partnership with Kevin O’Brien, who made an unbeaten 33. Ireland had a little stutter in the end with Balbirnie bowled by teenage spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and George Dockrell out for a first-ball duck off Mohammad Nabi. Stuart Poynter hit the winning boundary.Earlier Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan struck a gritty 82 to bring Afghanistan respect after they were left reeling at 50 for four. Afghan, who made 75 and 54 in the previous two matches, put on 76 runs with veteran batsman Nabi, who made 40, to revive the innings.He then held strong with Rashid at the other end to manage 65 runs for the seventh wicket before retiring hurt. His 111-ball stay was laced with six fours and two sixes.The two teams will play a one-off Test starting March 15 in Dehradun.AfghanistanM. Shahzad c Cameron b Murtagh 6J. Ahmadi b McBrine 24R. Shah c Stirling b Dockrell 17A. Afghan retired hurt 82S. Shinwari c McBrine b Dockrell 0M. Nabi c Poynter b Singh 40N. Zadran c Poynter b Cameron 7R. Khan not out 35M. Ur Rahman not out 0Extras: (w5) 5Total: (6 wickets, 50 overs) 216Fall: 1-6 (Shahzad), 2-39 (Ahmadi), 3-50 (Shah), 4-50 (Shinwari), 5-126 (Nabi), 6-141 (Zadran)Bowling: Murtagh 6-1-33-1, Rankin 5-0-16-0 (w1), McBrine 10-1-30-1 (w1), Dockrell 10-1-46-2 (w2), Cameron-Dow 10-0-46-1 (w1), Singh 9-0-45-1IrelandW. Porterfield b Z. Khan 17P. Stirling lbw b R. Khan 70A. Balbirnie b Rahman 68S. Singh lbw b Z. Khan 13K. O´Brien not out 33G. Dockrell b Nabi 0S. Poynter not out 4Extras: (b1, lb3, w10) 14Total: (5 wickets, 47.2 overs) 219Fall: 1-57 (Porterfield), 2-138 (Stirling), 3-161 (Singh), 4-207 (Balbirnie), 5-215 (Dockrell)Bowling: Rahman 10-2-26-1, Zadran 8-0-46-0, Nabi 9.2-0-47-1, Z. Khan 10-0-55-2 (w9), R. Khan 10-0-41-1 (w1)Toss: IrelandResult: Ireland won by 5 wicketsSeries: Five-match series ends at 2-2Umpires: Sundaram Ravi (IND), Bismillah Jan Shinwari (AFG) TV Umpire: Ahmed Shah Pakteen (AFG) Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND).

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