A composed 143* from skipper Rahmat Shah, compiled after strolling in along with his group in hassle at 22 for two, secured Afghanistan a 4-0 sequence victory over Eire on Saturday (August 15). Chasing 299, Afghanistan misplaced each openers early earlier than Rahmat shared a 201-run stand with Sediqullah Atal (98) to guide the guests to a six-wicket win.
With a sizeable complete to defend, Eire began properly with the brand new ball. Ibrahim Zadran was the primary to fall, trying a pull towards Liam McCarthy within the fourth over. An over later, George Dockrell took a wonderful catch operating again from mid-on to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz and hand McCarthy his second wicket. Having assumed management, Eire remained disciplined for the remainder of the Powerplay, with Afghanistan solely scoring 30 for two.
Each Rahmat and Atal remained affected person and bided their time. The required run-rate soared previous 7 runs per over as early because the thirteenth over however the two batters by no means misplaced their composure. The shift in tempo got here within the sixteenth over with Rahmat hammering Gavin Hoey for a six over deep-midwicket and Atal backing it up with a boundary three balls later.
Having settled in and attained consolation on the crease, the duo confidently punished something that was free. Each batters introduced up fifty and stored placing well timed boundaries as Eire continued to develop determined. The partnership, largely chanceless barring a top-edge that landed secure and a slight mix-up, had swelled to 200 by the fortieth over.
Simply because it appeared like Eire have been with out hope, McCarthy returned to interrupt the partnership. Keen to succeed in three figures, Atal heaved a size supply in direction of deep midwicket just for Cade Carmichael to swoop in and take a shocking catch. The veteran Rahmat didn’t make the identical mistake, reaching his first century in additional than 5 years within the forty second over.
Azmatullah Omarzai additionally performed an important hand, contributing a 14-ball 24 in a 56-run partnership with Rahmat, to tilt the sport decisively in Afghanistan’s favour. Fittingly, it was the captain who sealed Afghanistan’s highest run-chase in ODIs with a boundary within the forty ninth over.
Earlier within the day, each groups made three modifications every with the sequence already determined. Afghanistan opted to bowl upon profitable the toss and triggered loads of issues for the Irish openers with the brand new ball. Ultimately, it was Omarzai who struck twice within the seventh over to take away each Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling. AM Ghazanfar then snapped two fledgling partnerships, first dismissing Carmichael within the fifteenth over after which Lorcan Tucker within the nineteenth.
Harry Tector and Curtis Campher then stitched an important 55-run stand earlier than Nangeyalia Kharoti dismissed Tector for 53. Campher was then joined by Dockrell and the duo ensured Eire didn’t lose momentum. Whereas Omarzai returned to finish the threatening 72-run stand, Afghanistan weren’t capable of include Eire on the dying. The hosts managed 101 runs off the ultimate 10 overs, with Campher’s carnage ending on 96 when he was dismissed by Saleem Safi within the last over of the innings.
Temporary Scores: Eire 298/7 in 50 overs (Curtis Campher 96, Harry Tector 55; Azmatullah Omarzai 3-74) misplaced to Afghanistan 302/4 in 48.5 overs (Rahmat Shah 143*, Sediqullah Atal 98; Liam McCarthy 3-47) by 6 wickets.
