Ireland made 133 for nine off their 20 overs with John Mooney top-scoring with 42 but debutant seamer Dawlat Ahmadzai grabbed the headlines with 4-15 before Afghanistan reached their target with three balls to spare in Guyana on Wednesday.

Afghanistan showed their all-round mettle with Ashghar Stanikzai and Mohammad Nabi adding 66 for the fifth wicket in six overs.

A fine unbeaten 61 from Chamara Kapugedera went in vain as Sri Lanka slumped to a five-wicket defeat to South Africa with three balls to spare in Barbados.

Kapugedera and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya helped Sri Lanka post 137 for eight before a 61-run partnership between Mark Boucher and Johan Botha allowed South Africa to squeeze home in the final over.

At the same venue, England eased past Bangladesh by seven wickets. West Indies lost by seven runs to New Zealand later in Guyana. New Zealand put up a modest 124 for 8 in their 20 overs, only for West Indies to be all out for 117.

Brief scores: At Bridgetown: Sri Lanka: 137/8 in 20 overs (Sanath Jayasuriya 33, Chamara Kapugedara 61; Rory Kleinveldt 2-13, Charl Langeveldt 2-23, Morne Morkel 2-25) lt to South Africa: 141/5 in 19.3 overs (Herschelle Gibbs 26, Mark Boucher 33, Johan Botha 29).

Bangaladesh: 126/7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Ashraful 21, Mahmudullah 38; James Anderson 2-23, Michael Yardy 3-20) lt to England: 127/3 in 17.1 overs (Craig Kieswetter 22; Ravi Bopara 62, Paul Collingwood 32).   

At Guyana: Ireland: 133/9 in 20 overs (Gary Wilson 32, John Mooney 42; Dawlat Ahmadzai 4-15, Hamid Hassan 2-30) lt to Afghanistan: 134/5 in 19.3 overs (Nowroz Mangal 27, Asghar Stanikzai 39 n.o., Mohammad Nabi 28; Alex Cusack 2-12, George Dockrell 2-23).

New Zealand: 124/8 in 20 overs (Ross Taylor 50, Jacob Oram 46 n.o.; Sulieman Benn 2-12, Ravi Rampaul 2-18, Darren Sammy 2-38) bt West Indies: 117 all out in 19.4 overs (Shuvnarine Chanderpaul 53, Chris Gayle 35; Shane Bond 2-15, Scott Styris 4-18).