T20 WC: New Zealand-Afghanistan match abandoned due to rain, both teams share one point each
Oct 26, 2022
Melbourne [Australia], October 26 : The Group 1, Super 12 match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2022 between New Zealand and Afghanistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been abandoned without a single ball being bowled.
After this, New Zealand is at the top of the points table of Group 1 with three points and one win in two matches. On the other hand, Afghanistan finally has one point on the table. But they sit at the bottom of the table with no wins in two matches.
Notably, the match between Ireland and England held earlier today at the same ground was also affected by rain.
Rain played spoilsport in England's already shaky chase, helping Ireland defeat the former champions by five runs as per Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the Group 1, Super 12 match of the ICC T20 World Cup at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday.
Put to bat first by England, Ireland was bundled out for 157 in 19.2 overs. Skipper Balbirnie top-scored with a brilliant 62 off 47 balls and had an 82-run stand for the second wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker (34).
Other than this partnership, England bowlers dominated the inning. Pacer Mark Wood took 3 wickets for 34 runs in his four overs. Liam Livingstone also took three wickets for 17 runs in his three overs. Sam Curran got two while Ben Stokes got one wicket.
Chasing 158, England kept losing wickets at regular intervals, at one point reduced to 86/5. Knocks from Dawid Malan (35) and Moeen Ali (24*) offered the former champions some hope.
However, with England five runs behind the DLS par score, rain interrupted the action and they lost the match by five runs.
With this win, Ireland has climbed to the fourth position in the points table with two points and one win in two matches. England sits at third position with two points and one win in two matches.
Balbirnie was also crowned as 'Man of the Match' for his knock.
Brief score: Ireland 157 (Andrew Balbirnie 62, Lorcan Tucker 34; Liam Livingstone 3-17) won against England: 105/5: (Dawid Malan 35, Moeen Ali 24*, Josh Little 2/16) by five runs as per the DLS method.
