Cricket News: Ireland VS Afghanistan, 3rd T20I - Afghanistan beat Ireland by 22 runs, giving the Irish a 2-1 series lead in Twenty20

Rahmanullah Gurbaz's fifty helped the visitors reach 189-5.

Ireland struggled from the start of their reply, losing openers Paul Stirling for a duck and Andrew Balbirnie for one to trail 19-2.

Despite George Dockrell's late unbroken 58, they fell short with 167-9 as the wickets kept falling regularly.

Ireland won the first two games at the Belfast site and holds a slim lead heading into the last two games on Monday and Wednesday.

Ireland won the toss and decided to field, but they may have regretted that choice after Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai put up an opening partnership of 90 runs in 11.2 overs (53 from 35 balls and 39 of 40 respectively).

The Afghans finished their innings with five wickets left with the contributions of  Najibullah Zadran (42) and Ibrahim Zadran (36).

Najibullan blasted 42 runs in just 18-balls with five sixes.

The Irish were suffering at 85-7 in the 13th over when Dockrell and debutant Fionn Hand (36) put up 74 for the eighth wicket in six overs, the former blasting two sixes and six fours.

In the end, the home team never appeared to have a chance of winning, and their opponents emerged as deserving winners.

Naveen-ul-Haq starred with 3-38 statistics with the ball.

Captain’s Corner

Mohammad Nabi " We had planned in the morning, we had one or two good partnerships and finished well. We put a good total on the board and put the Ireland team under pressure. Early wickets are more critical, and our bowlers bowled brilliantly in the first six overs. It was a much better performance today; we performed as a team. We will try our best and hopefully will win the remaining two games.

Andy Balbirnie: Our batting let us down; we didn't do well in the powerplay. It was pleasing to see the fight at the back end, with George taking us to touching distance. He [Hand] seems to make things happen in the middle, whether with bat or bowl. George is a significant player for us in all formats. We are 2-1 up, but we want to win the series. We will try to do that on Monday.

Rahmatullah Gurbaz was the Player of the Match. "It was a very important match for us after losing two games," he says. "My performance wasn't good but coach and captain asked me to spend some time in the middle. Hazratullah Zazai's comeback was really important. I feel really relaxed batting with him. We have now adjusted to the weather and pitches and will try to win the remaining two games as well."