5 most memorable ODIs between Afghanistan and Ireland
The battle between Afghanistan and Ireland has always been even when it comes to ODI cricket. While Afghanistan dominated the Irish team in T20Is, the latter side has given a strong response in the 50-over cricket. The two teams will now play an ODI series in UAE which will come under the ODI CWC Super League. Afghanistan and Ireland have won 13 games apiece across 27 meetings in the ODI format thus far. Here are the top five ODI matches played between Afghanistan and Ireland:
2nd ODI, Belfast 2018:
Afghanistan lost four wickets for just 16 runs in 8.1 overs but eventually reached 182/9 with help of lower-order contributions. Ireland’s chase began with their captain William Porterfield falling for a duck but Andy Balbirnie’s 60-run knock put the home team on top. Rashid Khan’s late strikes reduced Ireland to 164/7 but they eventually reached the target with 37 balls to spare.
4th ODI, Belfast 2016:
After electing to bat first, Afghanistan lost six wickets for 109 runs in 31.5 overs. But Mohammad Nabi (50) and Rashid Khan (60*) scored fifties batting at No.7 and No.8 positions to lift Afghan total to 229/7. Rashid later starred with the ball picking up a 4-wicket haul as Ireland were bundled out for only 150 runs.
Afghanistan took a 2-1 lead in the 5-match ODI series with help of this 79-run win. Ed Joyce’s dismissal, the first wicket in Ireland’s innings hogged the limelight as the Irish batsman was deemed runout on a delivery where the ball appeared to have touched boundary during a fielding effort.
1st ODI, Greater Noida 2017:
Afghanistan, who batted first in the series opener, ended up with 292/7 in their 50 overs. Ireland’s reply began strongly as the skipper William Porterfield smashed a 98-ball 119 while Paul Stirling made 60. The Irish team were 170/1 in the 27th over but slowed down after a couple of strikes by Rashid Khan. Porterfield got out at the score of 214/4 in the 37th over and Ireland eventually got bundled out for 262 in 46.5 overs. Dawlat Zadran and Rashid were key faces behind the collapse with 4 wickets apiece to their name.
CWC 2019 Qualifier, Harare 2018:
With a world cup spot at the stake, Afghanistan and Ireland faced off at the Harare Sports Club during the CWC 2019 Qualifier played in 2008. A collective effort by the Afghan bowlers kept Ireland down to 209/7 on a slow track. Mohammad Shahzad set the platform in the chase smashing a 50-ball 54 with six fours and two sixes. The Afghans eventually completed the chase with five balls and five wickets to spare.
2nd ODI, Greater Noida 2017:
Afghanistan posted a huge total in the 2nd game of the ODI series against Ireland in Greater Noida. Captain Asghar Afghan smashed a 90-ball 101 while Mohammad Shahzad and Rahmat Shah made 68 and 63 respectively. Afghanistan ended up with 338/10 in their 50 overs. Paul Stirling bagged a 6-wicket haul with all his wickets coming in the final ten overs.
Stirling later smashed 95 runs in only 80 balls as Ireland moved to 173/2 by 27th over when he was dismissed. It was the turn of Rashid Khan to bag a 6-wicket haul as he ran through the Irish middle and lower order. Ireland got bowled out for 304 and lost the match by 34 runs even though 2.3 overs were left in the innings.
