Afghanistan vs Ireland 2021, 3rd ODI: All-Round Rashid Khan Helps Afghanistan To Complete Whitewash

On Tuesday (26th January), Afghanistan completed whitewash after beating Ireland by 36 runs in the last game of the three-match ODI series at Abu Dhabi.

Due to the fog in certain areas of Abu Dhabi, which was affecting the transportation in the city, the teams arrived late at the stadium. So, the match was rescheduled to begin one hour later of the original scheduled time.

After Ireland chose to field first, Afghanistan managed to score 266/9 (50 overs) in the first innings. In reply, Ireland only managed to score 230 runs (47.1 overs) before losing out their all wickets. In both those innings, Rashid Khan played very important roles.

Afghanistan vs Ireland 2021, 3rd ODI

2nd innings (Ireland): Ireland’s record ODI centurion Paul Stirling didn’t get enough support in chasing

Opener Paul Stirling once again provided a good start but he didn’t get proper support from the other top-orders. Both opener James McCollum (3) and captain Andy Balbirnie (5) lost their wickets cheaply inside the first powerplay as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi took those wickets respectively. However, Stirling controlled the chasing for Ireland as he completed half-century in 38 balls, inside the first 10 overs of that innings.

Then Stirling and Harry Tector set up the crucial 61 runs partnership for the third wicket. But in the 21st over, leg-spinner Rashid Khan broke that partnership by dismissing Tector for 24 runs. Later, Rashid took another wicket as he dismissed Curtis Campher for 12 runs.

Just ahead of Campher’s dismissal, Stirling became the most ODI centurion for Ireland after completing his 12th ODI century.

In the 37th over, Mujeeb Ur Rahman finally bowled Stirling for 118 runs off 119 balls (9 fours and 6 sixes). Since then, the Afghan bowlers took the match in control.

Rashid Khan finished that innings with the bowling figures of 9-0-29-4. Though Simi Singh (20) and Andy McBrine (16) tried their best at late, but those were not enough for the Irish to finish this ODI series with at least one victory. Also, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/43) got two wickets as he dismissed both the Irish openers.

1st innings (Afghanistan): Middle and lower-order batsmen fought and pushed the team to the challenging first innings total

Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Javed Ahmadi provided a firing start but Craig Young brought back the Irish team quickly after picking up top three Afghanistan batsmen inside the first five overs. While Gurbaz scored 22 runs, Javed scored 19 runs and previous ODI centurion Rahmat Shah scored only 2 runs.

Soon after the first powerplay, Andy McBrine dismissed Hashmatullah Shahidi (10) as Afghanistan were struggling on 66/4.

Then skipper Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi built up that innings with their crucial 51 runs partnership for the fifth wicket. In the 27th over, Simi Singh finally brought the break through by dismissing Nabi (32) through lbw. Then captain Afghan and Gulbadin Naib set up another crucial partnership of 45 runs for the sixth wicket.

But while Simi Singh dismissed Afghan (41 runs) in the 35th over, off-spinner Harry Tector got his first international wicket by dismissing Najibullah Zadran for a duck.

Then Naib and Rashid Khan controlled that innings and set up the 47 runs partnership for the eighth wicket. In the 44th over, Simi Singh ended Naib’s innings as he bowled the former Afghanistan captain for 36 runs.

Later Rashid Khan batted aggressively in the death over and scored 48 off 40 balls (3 fours and 3 sixes) before Josh Little sent him to the pavilion in the 49th over. While Mujeeb Ur Rahman scored run-a-ball 18 not out, Naveen-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 10 runs off 7 balls.

Among the Irish bowlers, Simi Singh (10-1-37-3) and Craig Young (8-0-61-3) got three wickets each, however, Young was little expensive.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan – 266/9 in 50 overs (Rashid Khan 48, Asghar Afghan 41; Simi Singh 3/37) vs Ireland – 230 in 47.1 overs (Paul Stirling 118, Harry Tector 24; Rashid Khan 4/29)

Result: Afghanistan won by 36 runs