Mohammad Shahzad overtakes Virat Kohli's aggregate in T20 Internationals
Mohammad Shahzad has been in stellar form in recent times and was once again at his best during Afghanistan’s third and final T20 game against Ireland. Shahzad led the charge on the Irish bowlers with a breezy 72 and the knock also took him past Virat Kohli's aggregate of 1710 in T20I.
Shahzad now has 1779 and is now only behind Martin Guptill (1806), Tillakaratne Dilshan (1889) and Brendon McCullum (2140).
Shahzad brought up his half-century against Ireland in only 27 balls, just after the end of the Powerplay. However, Shahzad did not stop there as he continued punishing the Irish bowlers.
Shahzad’s innings consisted of six fours and five sixes, and he set the stage for Mohammad Nabi to come in and continue the Irish demolition. Nabi duly obliged by smashing 89 off just 30 balls.
This meant that Afghanistan posted an imposing total of 233, the highest total by an Associate nation. Ireland’s Barry McCarthy conceded 69 runs in his four overs, the most expensive bowling figures in T20Is.
Although Paul Sterling and Stuart Thompson began the Irish response with a bang, scoring 91 runs in the Powerplay, Rashid Khan’s three wickets in the 19th over meant that the Irish eventually fell short of their target by 28 runs.
Afghanistan’s victory also meant that they pocketed the series 3-0 and have now won 11 consecutive T20I games.