Afghanistan has officially secured direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup after defeating Ireland by three wickets in the third One-Day International. The match, held in Belfast, saw Afghanistan chase down a target of 207 runs, with captain Rashid Khan playing a crucial unbeaten innings.
This victory marks Afghanistan‘s fourth appearance in the ODI World Cup. The team, currently ranked No. 8, needed a win in this contest to secure their qualification for the tournament, which will be hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Match Overview and Key Performances
Electing to field first, Afghanistan‘s bowlers made an impact early on. While Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed an early wicket, Paul Stirling and Cade Carmichael managed to build a 44-run partnership for Ireland. However, the spin duo of Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, who took 3 wickets for 29 runs, and Rashid Khan, with 3 wickets for 44 runs, then dismantled Ireland‘s middle order, leaving them struggling at 128 for 8.
Despite the collapse, Gavin Hoey and Jai Moondra formed a significant 76-run ninth-wicket partnership, helping Ireland reach a total of 206 runs. Yamin Ahmadzai eventually broke this stand, finishing with 2 wickets for 35 runs, as Ireland was bowled out in 46.3 overs.
In their chase of 207, Afghanistan appeared to be in control initially, largely due to a strong performance from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 71 runs off 77 balls. He was supported by contributions from Sediqullah Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi. However, Ireland‘s bowlers mounted a comeback, with Gavin Hoey proving particularly effective. Hoey removed Gurbaz in the 29th over and also dismissed Darwish Rasooli shortly after. When Mark Adair took the wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai for 13 runs, Afghanistan found themselves in a difficult position at 176 for 7, giving Ireland a renewed hope for an upset.
Despite the mounting pressure, Rashid Khan maintained composure, scoring an unbeaten 37 runs off 43 balls. He was joined by Yamin Ahmadzai, who contributed 4 runs off 26 balls, and together they guided Afghanistan to victory with three wickets to spare in 44.5 overs. Rashid Khan was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, which included his bowling figures and his crucial batting contribution.
Series Context and Future Outlook
This win extends Afghanistan‘s lead in the five-match ODI series against Ireland to 2-0, making it an unassailable advantage. The first ODI of the series was washed out, and Afghanistan had previously beaten Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI.
Ireland‘s captain, Paul Stirling, acknowledged his team’s ability to create competitive situations in both matches. He noted that an additional 20 or 30 runs could have made a difference in the third ODI, suggesting that a total of 220 or 230 might have been sufficient on the challenging pitch. Stirling praised the fighting spirit of Jai Moondra and Gavin Hoey with the bat, highlighting Hoey‘s control while bowling with two slips and an attacking field. He emphasised the need for Ireland to continue developing and learn to deliver a complete 100-over performance, moving beyond strong passages of play in isolation.
The next match in the series, the fourth ODI, is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, starting at 9:45 am GMT.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
