Ireland need to end six-year drought to level series

Ireland have not won a Twenty20 International (T20I) against Afghanistan since 2013, the streak includes 8 defeats and an abandoned game. So when Paul Stirling's side take the field on Saturday (February 23) for the second T20I they will have to find a way to overcome the mental block else another bilateral series - third in a row - will be lost to the Asian side.

The obvious weakness for the Irish has been against Afghanistan's spinners. Though they know all about them having faced the trio on numerous occasions, they still struggle to pick them, especially Rashid Khan, who has 20 wickets at less than 8 against Ireland. Add Mujeeb ur Rahman's variations with the new ball and Mohammad Nabi's guile and there's no breaking out of the spin web.

Ireland are also short in terms of experience. There is no William Porterfield or Niall O'Brien, the two most experienced batsmen - Stirling and Kevin O'Brien - open the innings which in turn exposes a young and an inexperienced middle order to the spin troika. So a lot rides upon the openers and Andy Balbirnie at number three, if they can get the team off to a good start, there will be a chance of shifting the pressure back on Afghanistan.

Afghanistan are number eight in the T20 rankings for a reason. They have a method that works wonderfully for them in the shortest format of the game and it is quite simple - strangle the opposition with spin. Mujeeb builds the pressure at the top by giving away nothing and that in turn allows Nabi and Rashid to pick wickets. The rest have eight overs among them and Afghanistan are well equipped there as well with the likes of Karim Janat and Fareed Ahmad.

The batting also has depth as was witnessed in the