Afghanistan vs Ireland: Hazratullah Zazai hits maiden fifty before rain abandons second ODI

Dehradun: Afghanistan opener Hazratullah Zazai hit a blistering maiden one-day international half-century against Ireland but the second match was abandoned due to heavy rain in Dehradun on Saturday. Zazai, a left-handed batsman, hit 67 off 43 deliveries to help Afghanistan post 250 for seven in 48.3 overs before rain curtailed their innings and no further play was possible. [caption id=“attachment_6184751” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Afghanistan batsman Hazratullah Zazai (right). AFP[/caption] The 20-year-old Zazai’s knock was followed by two more fifties from Rahmat Shah, who made 54, and Hashmatullah Shahidi, who scored 52, after the Afghans elected to bat first. The in-form Zazai, who amassed 204 runs including a highest of 162 not out in his team’s 3-0 Twenty20 sweep of Ireland, gave the Afghans a blazing start as he hit 5 fours and 5 sixes. George Dockrell claimed three wickets while fellow spinner Andy McBrine took two to check Afghanistan’s surge towards the end of the innings. Afghanistan, led by Asghar Afghan, lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning their opening match. The third ODI is on Tuesday in Dehradun.