Afghanistan gamers celebrate the dismissal of an Ireland participant all through their 3rd ODI match in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Twitter
Another Paul Stirling century went in vain as Afghanistan spinners Rashid Khan starred in the closing ODI to hand their aspect a 36-operate victory.
With the 3- sequence sweep about Ireland, Afghanistan have claimed 30 points as they climb up the ICC Cricket Earth Cup Tremendous League ladder, above Pakistan at No.4.
Getting set a concentrate on of 267, Eire received off to a shaky commence as they misplaced their opener James McCollum (3) and skipper Andy Balbirnie (5) within just the 1st 10 overs.
McCollum was the first one to tumble when Mujeeb Ur Rahman experienced him bowled in the sixth over.
Even though Eire skipper, Balbirnie, who struggled to make operates in the first two ODIs, after once again fell for a one-digit score.
In contrast, Stirling continued his prosperous variety in the last clash, as he went on to make a strong 118 from 119 balls which was studded with 9 fours and six sixes.
It was his second century in a row, and fourth in his previous six ODIs.
He also established up a new benchmark in Irish cricket, as he now has the most ODI hundreds, 12, by an Ireland batsman.
From one particular close, Stirling held the scoreboard ticking, but Eire kept on losing wickets from the other conclude. Harry Tector (24), Lorcan Tucker (22) and Simi Singh (20) acquired off to great starts but they unsuccessful to change their innings into match-successful knocks.
When Ireland dropped the prized wicket of Stirling to Mujeeb at the start of the 37th in excess of, Afghanistan introduced on their own back in the sport with frequent strikes which included two operate-outs of Mark Adair and Singh.
In the previous five overs, Ireland wanted 48 operates with three wickets in hand, but Afghanistan held their nerves and bowled the opposition out for 230 on the initially ball of the 48th about. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan starred with the ball, returning outstanding figures of 4/29 from nine overs.
Earlier, a mixture of mini-partnerships helped Afghanistan publish a difficult target of 266/9, even with slowing down considerably in their run-making in the center overs.
Afghanistan scored 44 runs in their 1st 5 overs, and 50 in their remaining five. Nonetheless, in the interim, Eire restricted them, using wickets often, and forcing the Afghans to undertake a more regarded method.
They had gotten off to flier after getting put in to bat, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored a century in the initial match of the sequence on debut, blasted his way to a 10-ball 22.
At the other stop, Javed Ahmadi creamed a 10-ball 19.
Having said that, this kind of an method often risked wickets, and Afghanistan lost three in a flurry. Gurbaz was the to start with to drop, cleanse bowled by a entire shipping from Craig Young, and in his upcoming over, he had the other opener Ahmadi holing out to mid-off.
Two balls afterwards, Young had Rahmat Shah dismissed for 2. Hashmatullah Shahidi appeared to hang close to, but was caught off a turner from Andy McBrine, and Afghanistan ended up lessened to 66/4.
It was then that the senior figures of Mohammad Nabi and captain Asghar Afghan bought jointly.
They ensured the movement of wickets was stopped, with Asghar major the way. He set on 51 for the fifth wicket with Nabi, and followed it up with a further 45-operate stand with Gulbadin Naib right after Afghanistan’s Nabi was trapped in entrance by Singh for 32.
The partnerships authorized Afghanistan to maintain their wickets intact for the flourish in the death. Soon after Asghar holed out to Singh in the 35th in excess of, Khan took on the task of guiding the innings by the conclusion.
He scored a 40-ball 48, accelerating in the final five overs of the innings, to get Afghanistan to a wholesome full.