Rashid Khan picked up six wickets to demolish Ireland’s batting lineup as Afghanistan beat the hosts by 92 runs in the second ODI at Bready on Friday. The result put Afghanistan 1-0 ahead in the five-match series after rain washed out the opening game.
Ireland lost seven wickets for just 63 runs in a dramatic batting collapse, bowling out for 207 while chasing 300 in a match reduced to 47 overs a side.
Ibrahim Zadran’s 84 Powers Afghanistan to 299
Ireland won the toss and chose to bowl first after a wet outfield delayed play by ninety minutes. Rahmanullah Gurbaz punished debutant left-arm quick Jai Moondra early, striking five fours and a six off his opening 14 balls before holing out at mid-on for 32.
Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran then built a 116-run stand for the second wicket, with Zadran reaching fifty in the 19th over and eventually falling for 84 off 97 balls. Harry Tector broke the partnership by bowling Atal for 45. Azmatullah Omarzai and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi then added 95 runs off the last 11 overs to push Afghanistan past 299.
Shahidi, batting at No. 7 for the first time in his ODI career, smashed an unbeaten 36 off just 21 balls, hitting Moondra for six and finding the boundary twice each against Mark Adair and debutant Byron McDonough.
Rashid Khan Wrecks Ireland’s Chase
Ireland made a promising start to their chase through Andy Balbirnie and Cade Carmichael, who put on 72 runs for the second wicket. Carmichael took 16 runs off one Mohammad Saleem over to seize the momentum, but Rashid Khan struck twice in quick succession, removing Balbirnie for 36 and then Harry Tector for 5.
Carmichael continued to attack, raising his maiden ODI half-century off 44 balls before falling for 62 in the 26th over, caught by Saleem running to his left at deep third. Lorcan Tucker’s dismissal turned the match further in Afghanistan’s favor. Tucker survived an lbw appeal off Saleem, but Sediqullah Atal fired in a direct hit from point to run him out mid-pitch. That wicket triggered Ireland’s slide, and Rashid Khan returned to finish the tail, taking four wickets in his last four overs to end with figures of 6 for 34, his third six-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
Afghanistan Take Series Lead After Campher-Calitz Fightback Falls Short
Curtis Campher and debutant Ben Calitz briefly threatened a recovery, adding 46 runs for the sixth wicket at a rapid pace. Calitz struck four boundaries and a six in a 15-ball innings of 27 before Rashid Khan ended his stay. Rashid then wrapped up the remaining wickets to seal victory and complete his six-for, sending Ireland from 144 for 3 to all out for 207 inside 34 overs.
Rashid Khan was named Player of the Match for his bowling display, while Afghanistan moved into a commanding position in the series. The two sides now head into the third ODI with Afghanistan looking to extend their lead, and Ireland searching for answers after a batting collapse that undid an otherwise competitive start to their run chase.
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