Fantasy: Bank on Rashid and Tector to deliver

Ireland will lock horns against Afghanistan in the third game of the five-match T20I series at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday, August 12. 

Ireland have been one of the most improved sides in the recent past and will be keen to continue their sublime performances in the home series, giving their fans plenty of reasons to smile. They came agonisingly close to winning the second T20I against India and will look be itching to make their mark in the five-match series. 

Ground details

In the 44 T20I innings played at this venue, the average first innings score batting first is around the 129-run mark and the average winning score is 160. 

Out of the 274 wickets to fall, fast bowlers have been the most effective and scalped 192 wickets, which is 70.1 percent of the wickets, compared to 82, which is 29.9 percent of the wickets. 

Suggested team

 While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captaincy suggestions

For small leagues:  Rashid Khan (Captain), Andrew Balbirnie (vice-captain)

For grand leagues: Harry Tector (Captain),  Usman Ghani (vice-captain)

Stats that matter

The skipper of the Irish outfit, Andrew Balbirnie, is the leading run scorer for the side this season, with 318 runs in 15 innings at an average of 21.2 and a strike rate of 127.2. 

In 2022, Fazalhaq Farooqi has been the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan, scalping eight wickets and conceding at an economy rate of 5.8 runs per over. 

Rashid Khan is second on the list of most wickets for Afghanistan, with six wickets at an economy rate of 5.5 runs per over. 

With 22 wickets in 14 innings, Joshua Little is third on the list of most wickets this season and has a strike rate of 14.8. 

Grand league punts

In 2022, Harry Tector is the second highest run-scorer for Ireland, with 314 runs in 12 innings at an average of 34. 89 and a strike rate of 134.3, which is the second-best among players with a minimum of 200 runs for them. 

Usman Ghani, who smashed a blazing half-century in the first T20I, will be the vital cog in the batting unit of Afghanistan in this clash. 

The right-handed batter will hold the key for his side in the powerplay and has been one of their most consistent performers, with five thirty-plus scorers in the last six innings. 

Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections

Probable XIs

Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (Captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooq.

*All stats till Ireland vs Afghanistan - First T20I.