AFGHANISTAN TOUR OF IRELAND, 2018 Ireland take on Afghanistan in the preferred format by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Niall O'Brien returns to the Ireland squad for the ODIs. © Getty Afghanistan will face Ireland for the first time since that famous game in Harare, which saw them qualify for the 2019 World Cup alongside the Windies. Both the teams haven't played One-Day Internationals since the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe earlier this year, and with Ireland not a part of the World Cup next year, the series may not have a lot at stake -- except definitely for the hosts, who need a series win to convince the world once again, unfortunately, that they are good enough. Despite Afghanistan's recent successes, the head-to-head between the sides is pretty level. Of the 19 ODIs the two sides have played against each other, Afghanistan have won eight, Ireland have won nine and two games stand abandoned. The last time the two sides met in a bilateral series, Ireland took the honours, winning the series 2-1 in alien Sharjah conditions. Afghanistan, though, are on a neurotic four-match winning streak -- even though it's been a while since then -- that helped them qualify for the World Cup, and as much as that's in the past, it'll play its part. The equations have changed. T20I series went 2-0in Afghanistan's favour, with Rashid Khan shining through with seven wickets. Rashid, unsurprisingly, will be a threat again in that incisive partnership with Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Overall, this three-match ODI series in Belfast, starting Monday (August 27), can be a good dry run for Afghanistan ahead of the bigger challenges that await them next year, allowing them to fine tune their side. When:Ireland vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI,August 27, 2018, 10:45 AM local time Where:Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast What to expect: A few showers are expected on the morning of the match. The pitch here is generally good for batting. In the last completed ODI at this ground in July 2016, Ed Joye hit 160 not out against Afghanistan in a win. Team News Ireland: Niall O'Brien and Tim Murtagh coming into the side boosts Ireland's morale and arsenal. Squad: William Porterfield (c), Andy Balbirnie, Peter Chase, David Delany, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Boyd Rankin, James Shannon, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson Afghanistan: Pace bowler Wafadar gets his maiden call-up to the side and is set to add an interesting dynamic to his side's pace attack. Rashid and Mujeeb are expected to continue Ireland's trial by spin, this time across longer spells. Squad: Mohammad Shahzad, Javed Ahmadi, Asghar Afghan (c), Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Aftab Alam, Ihsanullah Janat, Sayed Shirzad, Dawlat Zadran, Wafadar © Cricbuzz TAGS RELATED STORIES<doc-sep>IRELAND VS AFGHANISTAN, 1ST T20I All-round Afghanistan wallop Ireland by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Rashid Khan picked up three wickets © Getty 20-year old Hazratullah Zazai smashed a 33-ball 74 while Afghanistan's bowlers, led by Rashid Khan's three-wicket haul spurred their team to victory over Ireland in the first of the three-match T20I series in Bready on Monday (August 20). International cricket was back to the north-west of Ireland after a gap of nearly two years but the start was delayed by an hour because of persistent drizzle, reducing the contest to an 18-over affair. Gary Wilson won the toss and put Afghanistan into bat under overcast conditions, hoping to restrict the opposition to a decent total. But Ireland's skipper would've regretted that decision after the game. Afghanistan's openers came out to bat with an attacking mindset from the offset. Zazai smashed the third legitimate delivery he faced for a six over long-on and that was a sign of things to come. The youngster bulldozed his way to a 22-ball fifty and such was his dominance that Mohammad Shahzad was forced to play the second fiddle. The visitors bossed their way to 65 for no loss at the end of the fifth over and looked set for a big total. But the introduction of Simi Singh paid rich dividends for the hosts as the off-spinner snuffed out the dangerous Zazai for 74 - strangling him down the leg-side. Shahzad threatened to break free but attempting an ill-judged single cost himhis wicket. Again Simi Singh was in the business, effecting a direct-hit at cover to catch Shahzad short. From then on, Ireland's bowlers scripted a comeback, choking the run-flow completely and pegging back Afghanistan with constant strikes. Captain Stanikzai struck 31 but the rest of the batsmen just couldn't get going. The visitors could only muster 20 runs off the last four overs, finishing with 160 for seven in their allotted 18-overs. Tasked with a stiff chase, Ireland's aspiration were sullied early by Mujeeb ur Rahman who struck twice in his first two overs. Paul Stirling showed some promise but his innings was cut short for 27 by Aftab Alam, who pulled off a blinder at deep mid-wicket. Kevin O Brien followed suit in the next over, top-edging a sweep to short fine leg. The match was already in Afghanistan's kitty even before No. 1 bowler in T20Is - Rashid Khan - came into the attack. Reeling at 55 for 4, skipper Gary Wilson revived the hosts for a while.But with the asking rate creeping up and wickets falling at the other end, Ireland's skipper had no option but to look for big shots. In the process, he lost his wicket to Aftab Alam. George Dockrell and Simi Singh did show a stomach for a fight towards the end, however, they could only trim the defeat margin as Rashid Khan ran through the tail, picking up two more wickets and helped his side romp home by 16 runs. Brief scores: Afghanistan 160/7 ( Hazratullah Zazai 74, Asghar Stanikzai 31; Joshua Little 2-20) beat Ireland144/9 ( Gary Wilson 34, Paul Stirling 27; Rashid Khan 3-35) by 16 runs © Cricbuzz TAGS RELATED STORIES<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section Cricket Gulbadin Naib dismissed Ireland captain Porterfield in the 11th over First one-day international, Stormont Afghanistan 227-9 (50 overs): Gulbadin 64, Shahidi 54; Murtagh 4-31, Rankin 3-44 Ireland 198 (48.3 overs): Balbirnie 55, Alam 2-34 Afghanistan won by 29 runs Scorecard Afghanistan beat Ireland by 29 runs at Stormont in the first match of the one-day series. Gulbadin Naib made 64 and Hashmatullah Shahidi 54 but the tourists slipped from 155-3 to post 227-9 as Tim Murtagh took 4-31. Ireland were bowled out for 198 despite Andrew Balbirnie's 55 and 38 from Gary Wilson. The second match of the three-game series takes place in Belfast on Wednesday. Our fielding needs to be sharper - Porterfield The two sides have enjoyed several hard-fought ODI series in recent years, with Ireland earning a 2-1 win in Sharjah last December. Asked to bat on Monday, Afghanistan appeared set for a more challenging total before Boyd Rankin trapped Gulbadin lbw and the recalled Murtagh claimed three wickets in two overs - all caught by Balbirnie. Niall O'Brien was brilliantly run out in the 18th over by a superb piece of fielding from Hashmatullah Shahidi at short mid-wicket. Kevin O'Brien was also run out attempting a third before Ireland lost their last four wickets for 19 runs.<doc-sep>Tim Murtagh hit the winning runs as Ireland beat Afghanistan by three wickets at Stormont to take their one-day international series to a third and deciding match. The opening bowler had earlier taken a career-best four for 30 in his 10 overs, three of them in a devastating early blitz, to pave the way for victory as the tourists managed only 182 for nine from their 50 overs. Afghanistan had won the toss and elected to bat, but were ripped apart by Murtagh, who dismissed Mohammad Shahzad, Hazratullah Zazai and Gulbadin Naib in his first 14 balls with the score having reached just 13. Skipper Asghar Afghan and left-hander Najibullah Zadran, with 39 and 42 respectively, led a modest fightback to ensure they batted out their allocation, but their tally always looked significantly light. Ireland captain William Porterfield departed without troubling the scorers, but Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie, who top-scored with 60, steadied the ship to allow Simi Singh to steer them home with an unbeaten 36 and with 37 balls to spare.<doc-sep>
Belfast: Ireland levelled a three-match ODI series with Afghanistan at 1-1 with victory by three wickets in Belfast on Wednesday. The visitors chose to bat first but posted a modest total of 182 for nine as Tim Murtagh collected career-best figures of 4-30. Propelled by a half century from Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland then reached their target of 183 with six overs to spare. The sides will meet again on Friday to decide the series. "We were pretty good in the field today, and if we had the same application as today with the bat in the first game then we would likely be standing here two-nil up," said Ireland captain William Porterfield. "I’m really happy with how we went about it today, especially with the ball, and if we can bring that into Friday and get a few more partnerships then it will make things a little bit easier.” Afghanistan came into the match having won the T20 series between the teams 2-0 last week and after easing to a 29-run win in the first ODI on Monday. However, they were reduced to 16-4 inside 10 overs. Captain Asghar Afghan steadied the ship, but when he was brilliantly run out for 39 by Paul Stirling, Afghanistan were 100-7. Najibullah Zadran top scored with 42 to at least give the tourists hope and they made Ireland work for victory. Stirling and Balbirnie got Ireland off to a flyer at 69-1 before three quick wickets put the game back in the balance. Balbirnie also made a 50 in the opening match of the series and got to 60 before being dismissed by the impressive Rashid Khan. Another two wickets fell in quick succession to set up a grandstand finish, but Simi Singh's 36 not out saw Ireland over the line to level up the series. "It was always going to be a scrappy game, but it was really nice for Simi to see it through at the end,” added Porterfield.