Belfast, August 13: Afghanistan secured a 42-run victory over Ireland in the fourth match of the ODI series held at the Civil Service Cricket Club on Wednesday. With this win, the visiting team took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
The first match of the series was abandoned due to rain, but Afghanistan bounced back by winning the second match by 92 runs. They followed that up with a three-wicket victory in the third match, ultimately clinching the series. The final match is scheduled for August 14 at the same venue.
Batting first after losing the toss, Afghanistan scored 343 runs, losing 9 wickets. They lost their first wicket, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, for just 12 runs at a score of 16. However, Sedikullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran formed a formidable partnership, adding 231 runs for the second wicket off 220 balls, propelling the team to a total of 247.
Ibrahim scored 107 runs off 118 balls, hitting 12 boundaries, while Sedikullah contributed a remarkable 143 runs from 120 balls, including 4 sixes and 17 fours. Darwish Rasooli added 24 runs to the total. For Ireland, Byron McDonough took the most wickets, claiming 3, while Mark Adair and Gavin Hoey each took 2 wickets.
In response, Ireland was bowled out for 301 runs in 48 overs. Captain Paul Stirling provided a steady start with a partnership of 48 runs for the first wicket alongside Andrew Balbirnie. Stirling was dismissed for 27 runs, and the hosts lost their second wicket, Kade Carmichael, for just 5 runs at a score of 53.
Balbirnie then partnered with Harry Tector, adding 76 runs for the third wicket. He also formed a partnership of 73 runs for the fifth wicket with Curtis Campher. Curtis scored 84 runs off 46 balls, hitting 5 sixes and 8 fours, while Balbirnie made 109 runs from 119 balls, including 3 sixes and 9 fours.
From the Afghan side, Yamin Ahmadzai was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 71 runs, while Rashid Khan claimed 3 wickets. Azmatullah Omarzai took 2 wickets, and one wicket was taken by A.M. Gaznifar.
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