Dockrell hit the decisive run as the home side clinched a 3-2 win by seven wickets on Wednesday after Ireland reached a reduced target of 56 with two balls of their seven allotted overs to spare.

Having won the toss and put the Afghans in, Ireland got off to the perfect start when Mark Adair removed openers Hazratullah Zazai, who had dispatched the two previous balls to the boundary, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in his first over.

When Adair had Ibrahim Zadran caught by Barry McCarthy, he had 3-16 and the tourists had been reduced to 3-26 inside four overs.

Usman Ghani steadied the ship, but Josh Little had Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi caught behind by Lorcan Tucker off successive deliveries in his second spell.

Yet with Ghani unbeaten on 44 and his side having reached 5-95 from 15 overs, rain intervened.

Paul Stirling needed just five runs to reach 3000 runs in T20 internationals as Ireland's reply got under way, and he made it within three balls, cutting Naveen ul Haq for four off the first and taking a single from the third.

Fellow opener Andrew Balbirnie was trapped in front for nine attempting to sweep Mujeeb Ur Rahman with the score on 17, Mujeeb had Stirling caught at deep midwicket for 16 to give his side hope, and Tucker soon followed for 14.

However, Harry Tector and Dockrell saw their side home for the loss of three wickets.

Australian Associated Press