IRE vs AFG: Rashid Khan spins Afghanistan to 92-run victory in 2nd ODI

Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series against Ireland, with a clinical 92-run victory in the second ODI on Friday, August 7 at Bready Cricket Club, Bready, Northern Ireland. After being put in to bat first, Afghanistan posted a good score of 299/8 in the rain-curtailed 47-over fixture, riding on a splendid innings from Ibrahim Zadran, while Sediqullah Atal (45 off 50) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (36* off 21) also made valuable contributions.

In reply, Ireland found no answer to Rashid Khan’s spin wizardry and were skittled for 207 in 33.4 overs. Only Cade Carmichael (62 off 66) put up some fight for the hosts, failing to get support from the rest of the teammates. As a result, Afghanistan registered a comfortable win and got ahead in the series after the first ODI was washed out due to rain.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Rashid Khan was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match for registering his seventh five-wicket haul in ODIs. He first broke the dangerous-looking partnership between Andrew Balbirnie and Cade Carmichael. The wrist-spinner later returned to clean the Irish lower order and the tail to finish with figures of 6/34 in 7.4 overs, his second-best performance in ODIs.

Turning Point

Ireland looked well on course in the run chase, following a brilliant 72-run stand off 55 balls between Andrew Balbirnie (36 off 42) and Cade Carmichael. However, Rashid Khan ended their stand by getting rid of Balbirnie and further removed Harry Tector in his following over to bring Afghanistan back into the game. From there on, Ireland found it tough to claw their way back into the match and were eventually skittled for 207.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Rahmat Shah (Afghanistan): 

Our top order played really well. Assessed the conditions early, that's why we made 300 runs. We missed 20-30 runs. Target would've been 330 had we not lost wickets in the middle. There was a wind blowing to one side. Used the fast bowlers against the wind. And spinner using the wind side. Rashid bowled really well. We are very lucky to have a bowler like Rashid. Fast bowlers, spinners, we gave the plan and they executed the plan really well. That's why the result.

Losing Captain, Paul Stirling (Ireland): 

Slight bit of rust there in all three facets. I think we'll look back at it over the next 24 hours and see that we did a lot of good things. Probably fractionally off the pace. In the field we could've had a chance for a run out or two. Sort of fell away with the bat at the back end, and with the ball at the start. Plenty to work on. They all showed what they can do (the new players). It's about putting that together as a package. When you do start with three new faces, you've got to build a little bit from the ground up but they've shown signs that they belong and hopefully they've got good futures. We're gonna have to adapt quickly. In the past we've negated Rashid well by taking his wickets away. You've seen we were able to capitalise on the other bowlers here. We were always up with the run rate. I think at halfway through the second innings we were in with a great chance of winning the game. We did sort of capitulate a little bit at the back end. Take the wickets away from Rashid and it looks like we're fairly well in the game.