Afghanistan sealed the five-match ODI series against Ireland with a match to spare, beating the hosts by 42 runs in Belfast on Wednesday. Centuries from Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran lifted Afghanistan to 343 for 9, and despite a fighting hundred from Andy Balbirnie, Ireland fell short, bowled out for 301 in 48 overs.
The result put Afghanistan 3-0 up in the series, with the fifth and final ODI set for Saturday, also in Belfast.
Atal and Zadran Put On Record Stand
Ireland won the toss and chose to field first, and their plan looked sound early on when Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell in the second over. That early breakthrough turned out to be Ireland’s only real success for a long stretch of the innings. Atal and Zadran came together and batted through the middle overs without giving Ireland a sniff, adding 231 runs for the second wicket.
That stand is now the highest second-wicket partnership for Afghanistan in ODI cricket, going past the 218-run stand between Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad against Scotland, a record that had stood for 16 years. Zadran built his innings around strike rotation and reached fifty off 56 balls before accelerating, eventually falling for 107 off 118 deliveries.
Atal, who turned 25 on the day, was the more aggressive of the two, repeatedly using his feet against legspinner Gavin Hoey to disrupt his lengths. He fell for 143 off 120 balls after holing out while looking to clear long-on, an innings that included 17 fours and four sixes and earned him the player of the match award.
Late cameos from Darwish Rasooli and Rashid Khan helped push the total past 340, though the last ten overs yielded just 86 runs as the innings lost some momentum after the big partnership ended.
Balbirnie and Campher Give Ireland Hope
Chasing 344, Ireland started cautiously, managing only 25 runs in the first eight overs as Yamin Ahmadzai and Azmatullah Omarzai extracted swing with the new ball. Paul Stirling struggled for timing before falling LBW to Afghanistan Ghazanfar, and Cade Carmichael departed soon after.
Balbirnie anchored the innings, adding 76 for the third wicket with Harry Tector, and went on to complete his century, his knock of 109 off 119 balls coming with nine fours and three sixes. Once Balbirnie fell to Rashid Khan, Ireland lost their way, with Rashid removing Ben Calitz off the very next delivery to leave the chase in serious trouble.
Curtis Campher then produced a rapid 84 off 46 balls, striking eight fours and five sixes, and briefly threatened to make the finish uncomfortable for Afghanistan. His dismissal in the 48th over ended any lingering hope, and Ireland were bowled out for 301, still 42 runs adrift of the target.
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Series Lead Now Unassailable for Afghanistan
Rashid Khan finished with 3 for 49, and Ahmadzai took 4 for 71, sharing the bulk of the wickets as Afghanistan closed out the win.
The result gives Afghanistan an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and follows on from Afghanistan’s earlier wins in the second and third ODIs after the opening match was abandoned without a ball bowled.
Ireland will look to avoid a series whitewash when the two sides meet again in Belfast for the fifth and final ODI.
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