Kabul – August 10, 2026: A brilliant all-round performance from Rashid Khan, alongside a crucial half-century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, helped Afghanistan secure a three-wicket victory over Ireland in the third match of the five-match ODI series, giving Afghanistan a commanding 2–0 lead in the series.
Rashid Khan first impressed with the
ball and returned with figures of 3/44, before producing a crucial unbeaten 37-run
knock to guide Afghanistan over the line in a tense run chase. Meanwhile,
Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a key role at the top of the order with a valuable 71
runs, setting up Afghanistan’s successful pursuit of Ireland’s 207-run target.
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan won
the toss and elected to bowl first. The Afghan new-ball bowlers made an
excellent start and quickly removed Ireland’s opening batters to put the hosts
under early pressure.
Afghanistan’s bowlers continued to
dominate throughout the first innings and reduced Ireland to 128/8 in the 30th
over. However, a valuable lower-order partnership took Ireland’s total past the
200-run mark and helped them set Afghanistan a target of 207 runs.
AM Ghazanfar (3/29) and Rashid Khan
(3/44) claimed three wickets apiece, while Yamin Ahmadzai (2/35) took two
wickets. Fazal Haq Farooqi (1/36) and Azmatullah Omarzai (1/45) also chipped in
with a wicket each as Afghanistan bowled Ireland out for 207.
In reply, Afghanistan’s opening pair
made a positive start, putting together a 53-run partnership for the first
wicket. Following Ibrahim Zadran’s dismissal for 14, Sediqullah Atal (27) and Hashmatullah
Shahidi (22) each formed useful partnerships with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, but
neither batter was able to convert their start into a big score.
Gurbaz continued to anchor the chase
and went on to register his eighth ODI half-century and scored a valuable 71
runs before eventually losing his wicket.
Despite being well placed early in the
chase, Afghanistan then began losing wickets in quick succession, and brought Ireland
back into the contest. Afghanistan required 53 runs when Darwish Rasooli was
dismissed, while the equation was reduced to 31 runs when Azmatullah Omarzai failed
to clear the infield and departed.
With the chase under pressure and
wickets falling around him, Rashid Khan once again stepped up for Afghanistan.
The all-rounder remained unbeaten on 37* runs from 43 deliveries and formed a
crucial partnership with Yamin Ahmadzai, who contributed an unbeaten 4* runs
from 26 balls.
The pair held their nerve to guide
Afghanistan across the finish line and secure another important victory, giving
Afghanistan its second consecutive win of the series. Rashid Khan was named Player
of the Match for his outstanding all-round contribution, earning the award for
the second successive match after his six-wicket haul in the previous ODI.
The match also saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz achieve
another significant milestone in his international career. The explosive top-order
batter became the fourth Afghan player to reach 4,500 runs in international
cricket, achieving the landmark in his 150th international innings. Gurbaz
currently has 10 international centuries and 20 half-centuries to his name.
Meanwhile, former Afghanistan captain
and experienced middle-order batter Hashmatullah Shahidi also reached a notable
milestone, taking his international run tally to 3,500 and becoming the eighth
Afghan player to reach the landmark.
With this victory, Afghanistan have
taken a 2–0 lead in the five-match ODI series against Ireland. The two sides
will now have a break before returning to action next Wednesday for the fourth
ODI of the series.