Watch: "In my pocket" - Mark Adair's epic celebration after dismissing Rahmat Shah during AFG vs IRE showdown

Afghanistan won the AFG vs IRE series by winning the three-match ODI series 2-0. Ireland won the one-off Test match. Afghanistan then won the first ODI by 35 runs. The second ODI was washed out due to rain and Afghanistan won the final ODI by 117 runs.

Afghanistan scored 236/9 batting first in the third ODI. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (51), Hasmatullah Shahidi (69), and Mohammad Nabi (48) were the key scorers for the hosts. Meanwhile, Mark Adair dismissed Rahmat Shah edging him off to the keeper for just four.

Watch: Mark Adair Dismisses Rahmat Shah In Third ODI

Mark Adair has dismissed Rahmat Shah three times in four innings during this series.

Safe to say he’s aware of the trend… pic.twitter.com/JIEJGiqn50

— Nathan Johns (@nathanrjohns) March 12, 2024

Interestingly, Ireland pacer Adair dismissed Rahmat Shah twice in two innings of the only Test. He then dismissed him again in the third ODI. He made a celebration indicating that the Afghanistan batter was in his pocket implying that he had got his number in the series.

However, Adair’s celebration was shortlived as Ireland were bowled out for just 119 with Mohammad Nabi taking 5/17. Coupled with his batting exploits where he scored 48 off 62 balls and played a role in his team reaching the target, Nabi was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

Afghanistan and Ireland have now played 32 ODIs with Afghanistan winning 18 and Ireland 13. In the last five games, Afghanistan have won four games while Ireland has none in the ODI. In 23 T20Is, Afghanistan have won 16 while Ireland have won six. One match ended in a tie. Gurbaz ended up scoring 172 runs in the series and was named the Man of the Series.

“Very happy about the performance of the team and congratulate my team for the win. Stirling and Campher both of them were playing very good. When I was batting it was not easy and I trusted my spinners and they did the job.

“It was the critical partnership as we lost back to back wickets and unluckily Azmat got run out. We were discussing to take it deep and let’s make it to the 45th over. That was the first ODI pitch, while our batting also it was slower and the ball was not coming on to the bat. There was support but our spin bowlers put in the right areas” said Afghanistan skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi after the ODI series win.

Sharjah To Host AFG vs IRE T20I Series

The two teams now play a three-match T20I series with all the matches to be played in Sharjah from March 15-18. Afghanistan starspinner Rashid Khan will make a return to competitive cricket after his lower-back surgery after the World Cup. He missed the series against India, Sri Lanka and Ireland that Afghanistan played thereafter. His teammates are waiting for his return with baited breadth.

“The last three months were difficult because I had surgery. I had been suffering from a back injury for the last seven to eight months and the doctor had asked me to have surgery even before the World Cup but I decided to play the World Cup and have surgery afterwards because it was such an important event for us but Alhamdulillah I am back on the field and feeling well now and now my focus is on returning to the field and bringing joy and success to the nation” said Rashid Khan as he is gearing up for a comeback.

Also Read: BAN vs SL Head to Head Records in ODIs- 1st ODI, 2024