Kabul – August 12, 2026: Sediqullah Atal (143) and Ibrahim Zadran (107) struck magnificent centuries, while Yamin Ahmadzai (4/70) and Rashid Khan (3/49) starred with the ball as Afghanistan defeated Ireland by 42 runs in the fourth ODI to take an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
Earlier
in the day, Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl first. Afghanistan
produced a sensational batting display, posting a record 343/9
in their allotted 50 overs to set Ireland a target of 344 runs.
Sediqullah Atal
led the way with a magnificent 143 runs, while Ibrahim Zadran
added a brilliant 107. The pair put together a remarkable 231-run partnership
for the second wicket, laying the foundation for Afghanistan’s
record-breaking total. Darwish Rasooli also made a
useful contribution of 24 runs as Afghanistan finished
strongly to register their highest-ever total in ODI cricket.
Afghanistan’s
total of 343/9
surpassed their previous highest ODI total of 339/6, which
they recorded against Sri Lanka in 2024.
In
pursuit of the formidable target, Afghanistan made an excellent start with the
ball, quickly removing two of Ireland’s top-order batters. However, the hosts’
middle order responded strongly and kept the chase alive, eventually taking
Ireland all out for 301,
leaving them 42 runs short of the target.
Yamin Ahmadzai
was Afghanistan’s standout bowler, claiming 4/70, while Rashid Khan
continued his impressive series with 3/49. Azmatullah Omarzai
picked up two wickets, with AM Ghazanfar claiming the other.
The
match also produced several notable milestones for Afghanistan’s batters. Ibrahim Zadran brought up his seventh ODI century,
while Sediqullah Atal
registered his second ODI hundred. Their 231-run
partnership was the third-highest partnership for any Afghan pair in
ODI cricket.
It
was also only the fourth occasion on which two Afghan batters
have scored centuries in the same ODI innings. The feat was previously achieved
by Mohammad Shahzad and
Noor Ali Zadran against Canada in 2010, Ibrahim Zadran and
Rahmanullah Gurbaz against Bangladesh in 2023, and Azmatullah Omarzai and
Mohammad Nabi against Sri Lanka in 2024.
Ibrahim
Zadran also reached another significant milestone, completing 4,500 runs in
international cricket. He became the fifth Afghan batter
to reach the landmark, joining Mohammad Nabi, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Shahzad,
and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Zadran
reached the milestone in his 126th international innings,
with an average of nearly 40, including six centuries (the number
of centuries are 7 now) and 30 half-centuries.
In
addition to reaching 4,500 international runs, Zadran also completed 2,000 ODI runs,
achieving the milestone in just his 45th ODI innings. He became only
the third batter in men’s
ODI cricket to reach 2,000 runs in 45 innings or fewer,
following India’s Shubman Gill, who reached the mark in 38
innings, and South Africa’s Hashim Amla, who achieved the
feat in 40 innings.
For
his outstanding batting performance, Sediqullah Atal was named Player of the Match
after his magnificent 143 off 120 deliveries, an
innings that included 17 fours and four sixes.
With
Afghanistan now holding an unassailable 3–0 lead in the
five-match series, the two sides will meet next Saturday again for the fifth and final ODI
against Ireland.