IRE vs AFG: Paul Stirling becomes the 4th batter to score 3000 T20I runs, joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in elite list

Ireland batter Paul Stirling, on Wednesday, August 17, became only the fourth batter to score 3000 runs in T20Is.

Ireland batter Paul Stirling, on Wednesday, August 17, became only the fourth batter to score 3000 runs in T20Is. The right-hander accomplished the milestone during Ireland’s fifth and final T20I against Mohammad Nabi’s Afghanistan at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.

Prior to the game, the veteran needed only five runs to accomplish the milestone and he achieved the feat in the very first over of Ireland’s run-chase. After the Irish team was asked to chase down 56 in seven overs, Stirling started his knock with a boundary off fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq through the point region.

Thereafter, he played out a dot ball after which he picked up a single to reach the 3000-run mark. Stirling went on to score 16 runs off 10 balls with one four and one six before off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman accounted for his wicket.

Stirling’s short cameo didn’t go in vain as Ireland went on to win the rain-curtailed match by seven wickets (DLS Method) with two balls left.

After reaching the 3000-run mark, Stirling became the fourth batter after New Zealand’s Martin Guptill and India’s Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Guptill in the leading run-scorer in the shorter format with 3497 runs from 121 matches at an average of 31.79 with two centuries and 20 half-centuries.

As far as Stirling is concerned, he has racked up 3011 runs from 114 matches for Ireland at an average of 28.67 and a strike-rate of 134.84. He also has one century and 20 half-centuries to show for his efforts.