Mohammad Shahzad’s brisk hundred and fifties from Rahmat Shah and Najibullah Zadran, followed by disciplined bowling helped Afghanistan beat Ireland by 126 runs in the final one-day international on Tuesday, 21 May.
Afghanistan posted 305/7 from their fifty overs – their third-highest total in ODIs. Skipper Gulbadin Naib shone with the ball, claiming his maiden five-for in international cricket to help his side bowl Ireland out for 179.
Ireland lost opener James McCollum early in the chase and then lost regular wickets, with only Paul Stirling and Gary Wilson providing some resistance. All of Andy Balbirnie, captain William Porterfield, Kevin O’Brien and Barry McCarthy got off to a steady starts but failed to build partnerships.
Opener Stirling top-scored for his side, bringing up his second consecutive half-century of the series, scoring 50 off 56, while Wilson made a slow 34 off 53 and was the last batsman to fall as he became Naib’s last victim of the day.
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The Afghanistan skipper returned a match-winning 6/43 from 9.2 overs while Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam and Shah chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Earlier, sent in to bat, Afghanistan opener Shahzad, made a fluent 101 – his sixth ODI hundred – while Shah and Najibullah also contributed with valuable fifties.
Afghanistan lost their opener Noor Ali Zadran early in the fourth over. Mark Adair, who was the star bowler of the opening ODI, was the one to provide his side with the breakthrough.
Shahzad and Shah then carved a 150-run partnership for the second wicket to put their team in a strong position. Spinner Andrew McBrine struck twice in one over, to get rid of first, Shah, who fell for a 90-ball 62, and three deliveries later, Shahzad. The opener’s 88-ball century was studded with 16 fours, while Shah struck seven fours and a six.
After a wobble, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Najibullah provided a late thrust with a crucial 86-run stand for the sixth wicket to push their side past the 300-run mark. Najibullah entertained with his explosive batting, smashing 60* off just 33 balls, with seven fours and three sixes.
In the final over, Adair chipped in with two more wickets as Shahidi fell for a run-a-ball 47 while Rashid Khan was dismissed for a first-ball duck.
