Afghanistan completed a dominant 4-0 series victory over Ireland on Saturday, August 15, after captain Rahmat Shah steered his side to a six-wicket win in the final ODI. Chasing a challenging target of 299, Afghanistan found themselves in early trouble at 22 for 2. However, Rahmat anchored the innings with a brilliant, unbeaten 143, sharing a match-defining 201-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal, who contributed 98.
Ireland’s bowlers initially applied significant pressure with the new ball. Liam McCarthy claimed the early wickets of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, with George Dockrell taking a sharp catch to help reduce the visitors to 30 for 2 by the end of the Powerplay. Despite the required run-rate climbing above seven an over by the 13th, Rahmat and Atal maintained their composure. They accelerated in the 16th over, with Rahmat hitting a six off Gavin Hoey, and continued to rotate the strike effectively until their partnership reached 200 by the 40th over.
The stand was eventually broken when McCarthy returned to dismiss Atal, who fell just two runs short of a century after a fine catch by Cade Carmichael. Rahmat, however, remained resolute, reaching his first century in over five years during the 42nd over. Azmatullah Omarzai provided a vital late-order cameo, scoring 24 off 14 balls to help build a 56-run partnership with his captain. Rahmat fittingly struck the winning boundary in the 49th over to seal the historic chase.
Earlier in the match, Ireland posted 298 for 7 after being put into bat. Azmatullah Omarzai struck twice in the seventh over to remove openers Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling. AM Ghazanfar further stifled the Irish middle order by dismissing Carmichael and Lorcan Tucker. Although Harry Tector stabilized the innings with 53, and Curtis Campher played a blistering knock of 96, Afghanistan’s bowling unit struggled to contain the hosts in the final stages.
Ireland managed to score 101 runs in their final 10 overs, with Campher’s aggressive display finally ending in the last over when he was dismissed by Saleem Safi. Despite the late surge, the total proved insufficient against the clinical Afghan batting display. The match concluded with Ireland at 298/7 and Afghanistan reaching 302/4 in 48.5 overs, cementing a comprehensive series performance.
Having assumed control, Ireland remained disciplined for the rest of the Powerplay, with Afghanistan only scoring 30 for 2.
The required run-rate soared past 7 runs per over as early as the 13th over but the two batters never lost their composure.
The partnership, largely chanceless barring a top-edge that landed safe and a slight mix-up, had swelled to 200 by the 40th over.
Having settled in and attained comfort at the crease, the duo confidently punished anything that was loose.
Both batters brought up fifty and kept striking timely boundaries as Ireland continued to grow desperate.
Eager to reach three figures, Atal heaved a length delivery towards deep midwicket only for Cade Carmichael to swoop in and take a stunning catch.
Azmatullah Omarzai also played a crucial hand, contributing a 14-ball 24 in a 56-run partnership with Rahmat, to tilt the game decisively in Afghanistan’s favour.
Earlier in the day, both teams made three changes each with the series already decided.
Afghanistan opted to bowl upon winning the toss and caused plenty of problems for the Irish openers with the new ball.
Harry Tector and Curtis Campher then stitched a crucial 55-run stand before Nangeyalia Kharoti dismissed Tector for 53.
