Afghanistan have moved into an unassailable 2-0 lead over Ireland in their five-match one-day international series, with leg-spinner Rashid Khan and wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz driving back-to-back wins that also confirmed Afghanistan's place at next year's Cricket World Cup. The Ireland vs Afghanistan series, which opened with a washed-out first match, has since swung heavily in the visitors' favor as their spin attack repeatedly dismantled Ireland's batting line-up.
The opening fixture of the series was abandoned without a ball settling the outcome, according to Al Jazeera, leaving the sides to effectively begin their contest in the second match at Bready Cricket Club in the Northern Irish village of Magheramason. There, Afghanistan posted 299 for 8, built around an 84-run innings from opener Ibrahim Zadran, before bowling Ireland out for 207 in a match reduced by rain to 47 overs per side. Rashid Khan was the architect of the 92-run victory, finishing with figures of 6 for 34, his third six-wicket haul in ODI cricket, behind only his career-best 7 for 18 against the West Indies in 2017, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Rashid Khan's Six-Wicket Haul Sinks Ireland at Bready
Ireland had looked competitive in that second match, sharing a 72-run stand between Andy Balbirnie and Cade Carmichael before Rashid intervened. He had Balbirnie caught behind to break the partnership, then removed Harry Tector caught behind in his next over, according to Al Jazeera. Ireland, chasing 300, still needed 156 runs from 137 balls with seven wickets in hand when the innings unraveled. The collapse was compounded by a freak dismissal of Lorcan Tucker, who survived an lbw appeal from Mohammad Saleem only to be run out attempting a single after fielder Sediqullah Atal struck the stumps directly from point. Ireland lost seven wickets for just 63 runs as their innings folded, handing Afghanistan a 1-0 series lead.
Afghanistan pressed that advantage further in the third ODI at Stormont in Belfast, winning by three wickets despite Ireland producing a notably improved batting performance. The BBC reported that Ireland were bowled out for 206, one run shy of their previous total, with Cade Carmichael top-scoring on 32. Afghanistan's spin duo again did the early damage: Rashid took 3 for 44, capturing the wickets of captain Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector and Mark Adair, while young mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar surpassed him with 3 for 29, removing Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher in quick succession after fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi had struck first by dismissing Andrew Balbirnie for seven. Ireland's lower order offered resistance, with Ben Calitz contributing 20 and a stand between Gavin Hoey (36) and Jai Moondra (31) briefly steadying the innings, according to the BBC and Cricinfo, which noted the pair added 76 runs for the ninth wicket, an Ireland men's ODI record.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz Leads Chase at Stormont
Chasing 207, Afghanistan's reply was far from smooth. Rahmanullah Gurbaz anchored the innings with 71 off 77 balls, striking five sixes and two fours, but Afghanistan slid to 176 for 7 as Ireland's bowlers, led by debutant leg-spinner Gavin Hoey with 4 for 34, threatened a stunning turnaround. Hoey removed Rahmanullah and Darwish Rasooli in the closing stages, and Mark Adair accounted for Azmatullah Omarzai, but Rashid Khan, batting at No. 8, held his nerve with an unbeaten-effort of 37 in an unbroken stand with Yamin Ahmadzai worth 31 runs, sealing the three-wicket win, according to Cricinfo and the BBC. It marked Afghanistan's eighth consecutive ODI win over Ireland.
The victory carried significance well beyond the series scoreline. Cricinfo reported that Monday's win at Stormont secured Afghanistan's qualification as the eighth and final team to directly reach next year's World Cup, extending their run to a fourth consecutive appearance at the tournament. Ireland, by contrast, now face what Cricinfo described as a circuitous route through the Qualifier tournament, marking their third consecutive appearance at that stage after already missing direct qualification in 2019 and 2023.
With the series already decided at 2-0 and Afghanistan's World Cup spot locked in, attention turned to the fourth ODI in Belfast, where Afghanistan looked to complete a series win while also sharpening a batting order that Cricinfo noted had struggled during the chase at Stormont. Rashid Khan's all-round display in that match, combining bowling figures of 3 for 44 with his composed innings at No. 8, was seen as compensating for what Cricinfo called lacklustre shots from Afghanistan's middle order, with only Rahmanullah crossing 30 besides him.
Ireland, for their part, were expected to persist with the three debutants introduced in the second match: batter Ben Calitz and fast bowlers Jai Moondra and Byron McDonough. Calitz had posted two scores in the 20s, while Moondra's economy rate of 7.63 per over remained a concern given Ireland's limited bench options, according to Cricinfo. Ireland captain Paul Stirling praised Gavin Hoey's development, noting the control the young leg-spinner showed while bowling attacking fields of two slips in a 7-2 setup, calling it an unbelievable effort for a bowler of his age.
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah, meanwhile, credited his bowling group's ability to read match situations and break partnerships early, singling out the returning Yamin Ahmadzai alongside Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar. Ahmadzai had come into the third ODI in place of an out-of-form Mohammad Saleem, who was carrying an ODI bowling average of 247.00 after conceding 66 runs in seven overs during the second match, and repaid the selection with figures of 2 for 35, according to Cricinfo, which reported he was expected to retain his place for the fourth match at Belfast.
