Dehradun, Mar 2 (PTI) Afghanistan opener Hazratullah Zazai struck a swashbuckling maiden half-century before rain forced an abandonment of their second One-day International against Ireland here Saturday.

Rain held up play for nearly three hours before the game was abandoned without the completion of an innings.

The left-handed Zazai 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.

Rahmat Shah made 54 and Hashmatullah Shahidi contributed 52 after the Afghans elected to bat first.

Having swept the T20 series 3-0, Zazai gave his team a blazing start, striking five fours and five sixes.

George Dockrell picked up three wickets while fellow spinner Andy McBrine took two to check Afghanistan's surge towards the end of the innings.

Afghanistan lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning their opening match. PTI

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)