Ireland will take on Afghanistan in the second ODI of their five-match series at Bready Cricket Club on Friday, August 7. The opening match was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain, and both teams will be eager to make a winning start to the series.
Ireland will head into the match with confidence after their impressive 2-0 T20I series win over India at home. Paul Stirling's side will look to carry that momentum into the 50-over format and make the most of familiar conditions at Bready. They have secured three wins in their last five matches.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, are aiming to bounce back after a 3-0 ODI series defeat to India. The visitors, led by new captain Rahmat Shah, will be keen to return to winning ways. Before the India series, they whitewashed Bangladesh in an ODI series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Afghanistan have won 18 of the 32 ODIs against Ireland in head-to-head matches. Ireland have won 13 games and one match ended without a result. The visitors have also won seven of the last 10 ODI meetings and will look to continue that dominance in Bready.
IRE vs AFG Match Preview & Recent Form
Ireland will look to make a strong start after the opening ODI was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Captain Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector are the backbone of the batting lineup. Stirling has scored more than 6,000 ODI runs, while Tector is Ireland's reliable middle-order batter.
Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher and Benjamin Calitz add depth to the batting order, while Mark Adair leads the pace attack. Young seamer Jai Moondra is expected to keep his place after taking five wickets in two T20Is against India. Ireland will hope their home conditions work in their favour.
Afghanistan will enter the match looking to recover from a 3-0 ODI series defeat to India. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are expected to provide another aggressive start, while new captain Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi will look to steady the innings if early wickets fall.
Rashid Khan leads the spin department, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Yamin Ahmadzai offer pace with the new ball. Afghanistan will be confident of taking a lead in the series.
IRE vs AFG Pitch Report Today: How Bready Cricket Club Will Play
Bready Cricket Club usually offers a balanced pitch with good help for fast bowlers early in the innings. The new ball often swings under overcast conditions, and the opening overs will be challenging for batters.
Players who get through the new-ball spell can score freely, while spinners generally have a limited role and rely more on accuracy than turn. The captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first and make use of the early movement before chasing under improved batting conditions.
Bready Cricket Club ODI Pitch Stats
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Matches Played: 1
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Won Batting First: 0 (0%)
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Won Chasing: 1 (100%)
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Matches Tied: 0 (0.00%)
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Highest team total: 258/6 (Ireland vs Zimbabwe, 2019)
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Highest successful chase: 258/6
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Highest Individual Score: Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe) – 105 vs Ireland (2019)
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Best Bowling Figures: Mark Adair (Ireland) – 4/73 vs Zimbabwe (2019)
IRE vs AFG Weather Forecast & Rain Threat at Bready Cricket Club
The weather forecast is much better than it was for the opening ODI. Sunny spells and light clouds are expected throughout the day, with temperatures ranging between 13°C and 19°C.
There is only a slight chance of rain, and no major interruptions are expected. Light winds could assist the fast bowlers, especially during the first innings.
IRE vs AFG: Team News & Injury Updates
Ireland will be without several first-choice fast bowlers for the second ODI. Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, David Delany, Matt Ford, and Jordan Neill were ruled out of the series.
The injury crisis has opened the door for young seamers Jai Moondra and Byron McDonough. Moondra impressed during Ireland's recent T20I series against India, while both bowlers will look to make the most of another opportunity against a strong Afghanistan batting lineup.
Afghanistan have no major injury concerns ahead of the second ODI. Rahmat Shah will lead a full-strength squad featuring key batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullah Omarzai.
The visitors also have a balanced bowling attack led by Rashid Khan. Fazalhaq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai, and Allah Ghazanfar provide Afghanistan with quality pace and spin options.
IRE vs AFG Predicted Playing XIs
Ireland Predicted XI
Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Benjamin Calitz, Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra
Afghanistan Predicted XI
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah (c), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai
IRE vs AFG Key Player Battles to Watch
Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Mark Adair
Rahmanullah Gurbaz likes to attack from the start, but Mark Adair will look to use the new ball and home conditions to trouble him. Gurbaz can set the tone for Afghanistan with his batting.
Paul Stirling vs Fazalhaq Farooqi
Paul Stirling will aim to give Ireland a quick start, while Fazalhaq Farooqi will try to swing the new ball and remove the Irish captain inside the powerplay.
Harry Tector vs Rashid Khan
Harry Tector has been Ireland's most reliable middle-order batter in recent years. Rashid Khan's variations will test him during the middle overs.
Key Players to Watch
Ireland: Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Mark Adair
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Are Afghanistan the Favourites to Win?
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Afghanistan have won seven of their last 10 ODIs against Ireland and hold an 18-13 head-to-head advantage overall.
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Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Hashmatullah Shahidi give Afghanistan a strong batting lineup.
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Ireland are missing several first-choice fast bowlers, leaving them with an inexperienced pace attack.
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Although Ireland are high on confidence after beating India 2-0 in a recent T20I series, Afghanistan have a more balanced ODI squad and enter the match as favourites.
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