Mohammad Nabi played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s triumph, contributing a crucial 48 runs with the bat before showcasing his prowess with the ball to pick up five wickets.His all-round performance proved instrumental in guiding Afghanistan to victory.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided a solid start for Afghanistan yet again, scoring 51 off 53 balls before falling to spinner Andy McBrine. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi anchored the innings with a steady 69, ensuring Afghanistan posted a competitive total despite facing some resistance from the Irish bowlers in the final overs.
In response, Ireland faltered early, losing opener Andy Balbirnie cheaply. Although skipper Paul Stirling provided some resistance with a half-century, Ireland struggled to maintain momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Nabi’s spin proved to be the undoing of the Irish batting lineup, as he dismissed key batsmen and claimed his first-ever five-wicket haul in ODIs. Debutant Nangeyalia Kharote also made a significant contribution, taking crucial wickets to further dent Ireland’s chances.
A dramatic collapse saw Ireland lose five wickets for just two runs, effectively sealing the fate of the match in Afghanistan’s favor. Nabi and Kharote’s combined efforts ensured a comprehensive victory for Afghanistan, reaffirming their dominance in the series.
Following the ODI series, both teams will continue their contest in the T20 format with three matches scheduled in Sharjah on March 15, 17, and 18. Despite Ireland’s victory in the preceding one-off Test match, Afghanistan’s commanding performance in the ODIs underscores their strength in limited-overs cricket.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 236-9 in 50 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 69, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 51; M Adair 3-51, B. McCarthy 2-42) vs Ireland 119 all out in 35 overs (P. Stirling 50; Mohammad Nabi 5-17, Nangeyalia Kharote 4-30)
Toss: Ireland
Result: Afghanistan won by 117 runs
Series: Afghanistan win the three-match series 2-0
(With inputs from AFP)
