Chasing a relatively modest 122 for victory, skipper William Porterfield smashed nine boundaries as he raced to 46 from just 30 balls. In conjunction with Niall O'Brien (18), the pair added 52 in just 6.1 overs to set Ireland well on course.

Karim Sadiq (2-17) brought a semblance of control to the wayward attack, and having dismissed Porterfield, followed it up with the wicket of Andre Botha (5). That set about a nervous period for the Irish, as they went from 91-2 to 98-5 in the space of 12 balls. Gary Wilson (16*), and John Mooney (9*) however settled the dressing room as they added an unbroken 26 to achieve the win with 11 balls to spare.

If the current skipper was the star with the bat, then it was the former captain who set up the win with the ball. Trent Johnston took 4 for 22 in an inspired spell, continuing his superb form of 2009. Andre Botha (3-14) wasn't far behind Johnston in the bowling stakes, while a special word of praise for 17 year old George Dockrell. The left arm spinner showed just why he is so highly rated in Irish cricket circles, taking 2-11 in a superb display of control and variety.

Raees Ahmadzai (33*), skipper Nowroz Mangal (27), and Shafiqullah Shafiq (23), all got starts for Afghanistan, but no-one was able to break the shackles of a disciplined and penetrative Irish attack, who had the happy knack of taking wickets at crucial intervals.

It's a case then of third time lucky for Ireland who had lost their two previous encounters to Afghanistan in the World Cup Qualifier and Intercontinental Cup.

Ian Callendaer reports
Ireland will be looking for a second successive victory when they take on Canada in the Twenty20 Quadrangular Tournament in Colombo on Wednesday morning (0400GMT). After trying out their options in defeat on Sunday there was no messing about on Monday. A win against Afghanistan, Ireland’s nemesis for the last 10 months in four-day and 50 overs cricket, was the be all and end all. So, out went Nigel Jones and Phil Eaglestone and in came Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien. Gary Kidd was forced to sit out a second successive game as Ireland fielded their first choice line-up and a five wickets win can be the launching pad for the second half of the tour.

Even the best laid plans can go astray, however, and although Alex Cusack was given the new ball, his first two overs went for 24 runs, just four less from two balls fewer than Eaglestone conceded against the Sri Lanka Board XI the previous day. But some things never change and Trent Johnston actually bettered his performance on Sunday. Again he took a wicket in his first over but this time followed up with one in each of his remaining three overs to finish with four for 22 including that rare commodity in a T20 game, a maiden.

He was assisted by sharp work behind the stumps from Niall O’Brien and a brilliant overhead catch by Andrew White as Ireland held everything that came their way. The other catches were all fairly straightforward but ensured the bowlers got their full reward, none more so than George Dockrell who claimed another brace of wickets, both caught at long-off, this time at the miserly cost of just 11 runs, not bad for a left arm spinner. With his clever flight and variation the 17 year old is now looking a certainty to play in next Tuesday’s World Twenty20 opener in Dubai. And that’s what made this win even more important - Afghanistan are the first opponents and Ireland have the psychological edge.

A total of 121 should never be defendable and the positive display of the Ireland batting for 12 overs turned the victory chase into a formality. Led from the front by captain William Porterfield, who hit nine boundaries in his 46 from just 30 balls, he and Niall O’Brien (18 off 13) brought up the 50 inside six overs of impressive powerplay batting. Paul Stirling, playing his first match of the tour just 36 hours after arriving from New Zealand, continued the good work until Andre Botha was beaten all ends up by off spinner Karim Sadiq. When Kevin O’Brien was bowled off the last ball of the next over, suddenly caution overtook the batsmen and there were fears that it would be the collapse against England revisited.

Stirling played five defensive shots to off spinner Mohammad Nabi and gave a return catch to the sixth and John Mooney then took five balls to get off the mark. Fortunately, Gary Wilson knew the way to win was to stay positive and a couple of boundaries released the tension. Next over Mooney hit the winning four and Ireland were up and running.

Canada took a nine wickets hammering in the opening game of the tournament when they could manage only 93 for six against the Sri Lanka Board XI. They did not hit one four after the sixth over and the only six came via a dropped catch

Barry Chambers and Ian Calleder(Belfast Telegraph)