Ireland’s Paul Stirling becomes the 4th batter to score 3000 T20I runs; joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in elite list

BELFAST: Ireland’s star opening batter Paul Stirling has set a new record in T20Is. The right-hander became only the fourth batter to score 3000 runs in the shortest format of the game. The achievement came during Ireland’s fifth and final T20I against Afghanistan at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.

The Irish team was asked to chase down 56 runs in seven overs in the final match, and Stirling, who needed only five runs to reach the milestone, did so in the first over itself. The batting all-rounder went on to score 16 runs off 10 balls, with one four and one six, before being dismissed by off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Ireland won the rain-curtailed match by seven wickets (DLS Method) with two balls remaining.

Stirling has now joined Indian superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the 3000-run club. However, the list is topped by New Zealand opening batter Martin Guptill, who has 3497 runs to his name from 121 matches. Stirling now has a total of 3011 runs to his name from 113 innings in 114 matches. He has scored one century and 20 fifties in this format.