Both Ireland and Afghanistan have qualified for Sri Lanka, and Ireland have already played one match today, but hopefully the final will be a close game. Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat. Live text ball-by-ball commentary here. Adds Or, thanks to John below, watch it live here.
Afghanistan 152 for 7 from 20 overs.
Update Afghanistan made 152 from their 20 overs. Not as high a total as they were threatening, thanks to a spirited bowling and fielding performance by Ireland. Key moment being the fall of Shahzad’s wicket in the 19th over. But he had already made 77 runs from 57 balls, top-scoring for Afghanistan. Target for Ireland 153 runs. A tough ask against the reigning champions [Afghanistan beat Ireland in the 2010 qualifer final].
Porterfield bowled out by the first ball.
WTS Porterfield b Dawlat Zadran 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) FoW 0 for 1 from 0.1 overs.
EC Joyce c Mohammad Nabi b Aftab Alam 11 (16b 2×4 0x6) FoW 33 for 2 from 3.4 overs.
PR Stirling c Gulbodin Naib b Dawlat Zadran 79 (38b 9×4 3×6) FoW 113 for 3 from 12.5 overs
KJ O’Brien c †Mohammad Shahzad b Dawlat Zadran 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) FoW 113 for 4 from 13 overs
GC Wilson c Mirwais Ashraf b Aftab Alam 32 (39b 2×4 0x6) FoW 150 for 5 from 18.1 overs
Ireland 156 for 5 from 18.5 overs
Ireland win by 5 wickets! With 7 balls remaining. Great run chase after a very early scare. Magnificent batting by Stirling, 79 runs from 38 balls, making him the highest scorer of the tournament. Ireland will now go into the group of Australia and West Indies in Sri Lanka in September.
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