Ireland v Afghanistan: Tourists win by 22 runs to keep T20 series alive

Third Twenty20 international, Belfast: Afghanistan 189-5 (20 overs): Gurbaz 53, Najibullah 42; Little 2-29 Ireland 167-9 (20 overs): Dockrell 58*, Hand 36; Naveen 3-38Afghanistan won by 22 pointsScorecard< p class= "" data-reactid=".149dc7b1y5q.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.0">Half a century of Rahmanullah Gurbaz helped tourists 189-5.

Ireland struggled from the start in their response as they lost openers Paul Stirling for a duck and Andrew Balbirnie for a lie 19 -2.

Wickets continued to drop steadily and despite a late unbeaten 58 from George Dockrell, they have failed with 167-9.

Ireland won the first two matches at the Belfast venue and retain a slim lead going into the final two meetings on Monday and Wednesday.

Ireland won the draw ort and opted for the field, but she may have regretted the decision when Gurbaz (53 from 35 balls) and Hazratullah Zazai (39 from 40) set up an opening partnership of 90 from 11.2 overs .

Ibrahim Zadran (36) and Najibullah Zadran (42) built on the foundation laid by the openers then which the Afghans finished with five wickets remaining.

Najibullan hit five sixes in his 18-ball 42.

Josh Little was the choice of Irish bowlers with 2-29.

Lorcan Tucker was the only one of Ireland's top five batters to hit double figures as he slammed 31 of 21 balls including a six and four four.

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