Ireland vs Afghanistan, AFG in IRE, 5 ODIs, 2026 Aug 15 Full score card

FOUR! AFGHANISTAN WIN 4-0! Fittingly, it is the skipper who seals the game. Half volley, on middle, Rahmat Shah leans across and flicks it through mid-wicket to find the fence. His hands go aloft in celebration and the Afghan fans are jumping up in sheer joy. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 6 WICKETS AND 7 BALLS TO SPARE!

Right then. The best batter of the match gets a chance to finish this off.

SCORES LEVEL NOW. On a length, around off, Hashmatullah gets across and tucks it through mid on for a quick single.

A quick short ball, outside off, Shahidi looks to cut but gets a bottom edge which goes past the stumps behind.

Fuller, outside off, Hashmatullah Shahidi leans and drives it beautifully through the covers. Sweeper gets across to his left and slides, keeping the ball in play. The batters take a couple.

Dropped short, around middle, Rahmat Shah swivels across and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Should be the final over of the match and series. Moondra takes up the responsibility.

On a good length, around middle, Shahidi works it to the right of deep square leg for a couple. 13 from the over, Liam McCarthy finishes with bowling figures of 10-1-47-3.

FOUR! A bit too straight, Hashmatullah Shahidi tickles it to the fine leg fence to get off the mark. Just 7 more needed now.

Full and straight, the skipper eases this towards long on for a single.

FOUR! Slower ball, short in length, outside off, Shah waits for the ball to arrive and then cuts it behind point for a boundary.

Dropped short, outside off, Rahmat pulls it through mid-wicket for a couple.

On a length, outside off, Rahmat Shah feels for it but misses.

Medical attention for Shahidi. This is after that blow on the 5th ball of the previous over. The magic spray is done and we are ready to continue. Liam McCarthy will bowl out. 9-1-34-3 so far.

Outside off, tapped to point for a run. A wicket and 12 runs from the over, Jai Moondra's bowling figures read 9-0-58-1 so far.

That would have stung. On a good length, outside off, Hashmatullah Shahidi looks to defend but the ball rears up suddenly. Shahidi has nowhere to go and the ball pings him hard on the gloves, dropping down on the leg side. A quick single taken. In fact, leg bye has been signalled.

Hashmatullah Shahidi walks in next, in his 100TH ODI, at number 6, replacing Omarzai, for the finishing rites.

OUT! EXCEPTIONAL FROM HOEY! May not matter in the context of the game, but credit needs to be given where it is due. Dug in short, around off, Azmatullah Omarzai waits for the ball to arrive and then ramps it over short third. But he is not quite able to connect cleanly and the ball goes off the under edge. It goes low and wide to the right of short third but Gavin Hoey flings himself to his right and catches it one-handed! Somethng to celebrate for Ireland on this difficult day. Omarzai's cameo ends in a quickfire stand of 56. AFGHANISTAN ARE 279/4, needing another 20 runs from 20 balls.

On a good length, outside off, angling in, Azmatullah looks to tap and run, but gets it off the inner half of the bat, back to the bowler.

FOUR! Exceptional batting. Full, around off, Omarzai goes to the leg side again, reaches out and drives it through the covers. Paul Stirling dives to his right at cover but it is in vain and the ball races through.

Seems like the ball is lost. It has perhaps gone beyond the ground into another park. Finally, the ball is retrieved. Campher is offering some words of advice to Moondra.

SIX! SLAP! Stand and deliver. On a good length, outside off, from around the wicket, Azmatullah Omarzai backs away a touch and slaps it miles over long off! The 50-RUN STAND is up, in just 34 balls. 24 more needed now, from 23 balls.

Another short ball, outside off, RS pulls it through mid-wicket. Deep square leg gets across to his left, dives, half-stops the ball and parries it to deep mid-wicket getting across. Two runs taken.

On a good length, outside off, cutting back in, the skipper punches it towards point again.

Similar ball, Shah also tries what Omarzai did on the previous ball, but cuts it straight to point.

Shorter, outside off, extra bounce, Azmatullah Omarzai rises with the bounce and cuts it to deep point for a run.

Outside off, Rahmat dabs it to deep third for a single.

Short, outside off, Rahmat Shah pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Afghanistan have literally cantered here. 299 was / is no mean target but they have just galloped with consummate ease. And this, despite being 49/2 after 15 overs. Curtis Campher is back on. 6-0-40-0 so far.

Low full toss outside off, smacked away to sweeper cover for just a single. 10 off the over, 36 more needed now off 30 balls.

TOP EDGE, FOUR! But not the right length from the bowler. With fine leg up, Moondra bowls it short and around middle, Rahmat Shah goes for the pull but gets a top edge. However, it flies over short fine leg and nearly goes all the way, landing just in front of the ropes. 37 more needed from 31 balls.

Unlucky for the bowler. Good-length delivery, lands it on off and jags it back in. Shah plays a tentative drive off the front foot and gets an inside edge just past the leg stump. The ball rolls down to fine leg and Shah picks up a brace.

A bit of cat and mouse between the batter and the bowler. Fullish length, Shah looks to get forward and drive but hits it straight back. Moondra gathers the ball and throws the ball back at the stumps, but Shah turns back and cops a blow on the back of his legs.

Chipped in the air, and it will fall safely. Good length, on off, angling in. Rahmat Shah looks to loft it down the ground but the ball angles in and catches the inner half of the blade, landing well short of the incoming deep mid-wicket fielder Two more added to the total.

Back of a length, angled in from around the wicket. Azmat gets on his toes and taps it down towards short third for a run.

Jai Moondra returns. 7-0-37-0 so far.

SIX! HUMONGOUS! Floated, outside off, Rahmat gets down on a knee and slog sweeps this brilliantly over deep mid-wicket. The fielder keeps on running back, back, back, and is well beyond the ropes as well. The ball lands well beyond him. 14 from the over, 250 UP FOR AFGHANISTAN! 46 more needed from 36 balls.

Drifted into the legs, quicker too. Shah looks to step out but has to adjust and just plays it back to the bowler.

Short and on off, Rahmat Shah employs the square cut again, hitting it to the left of the deep point fielder for a couple of runs more.

FOUR! Brilliant shot. Fractionally short, around off. Rahmat Shah goes back and cuts it from the line of the stumps, past backward point and finds the fence behind.

Tossed up again, outside off, Omarzai backs away and lofts it inside-out, but on the bounce to wide long off for just a single.

Flighted up at the stumps, Shah comes down the pitch and drives it along the carpet to long off for a single.

FOUR! Spoils the over. Azmatullah Omarzai backs away to the leg side and McCarthy follows him. The ball is a good length, around off and Omarzai throws his bat hard at it. Gets a thick outside edge which flies over the vacant slip region to the deep third fence, beating deep third's dive to his left.

Back of a length and in the channel, Shah looks to hit it through the off side but gets it off the inside half of the blade through square leg for one.

Short again, around chest height, Shah leans back and pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Long chat between Curtis Campher and Liam McCarthy. Now, Harry Tector joins in the conversation.

Oh, that could have easily gone to hand. Quick and short, right at the batter. Azmatullah Omarzai gets rushed into the pull and gets a top edge that sails back over the keeper's head. Lorcan Tucker chases it down and keeps it down to a single.

There it is, Rahmat Shah just scampers through and brings up a well-deserved ton. It's been more than five years in the making, but SHAH HAS HIS 6TH ODI HUNDRED. Bowled back of a length and outside off, tapped away to the left of point for a quick single. Shah takes off the helmet and soaks in the applause. Excellent knock, but his job isn't done yet.

On a hard length, darted back in towards the off stump. Shah stays back and jams it back down the pitch.

Good comeback by Hoey after going for a boundary on the opening delivery.

Flighted ball outside off, turning away. Omarzai slices it to the left of backward point, where Andy Balbirnie makes a good stop.

Fuller on middle and leg, driven down to long on for one. Shah moves to 99.

Nervous 90s indeed for the Afghan skipper. Fullish length, drifted into the stumps, but this one pitches and turns away sharply. Shah gets pegged back and gets beaten past the outside edge. There's a stifled appeal for caught behind, nothing more.

Oh, some serious grip and turn here. Good length outside off, the ball turns square and Rahmat Shah pulls out of the attempted cut.

Hoey immediately shortens the length, Omarzai rocks back and smacks it down to deep cover for a single.

FOUR! SLAM! And Hoey is back under pressure. Tossed up outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai gets down on a knee and slogs it over mid on for a boundary!

Gamble from Stirling. He has thrown the ball to Gavin Hoey. 8-0-53-0 so far.

A dot to finish, just 2 runs and a big wicket off it. Back of a length, in the channel, Shah camps back and punches it down in front of point.

Hard length, wide of the off stump. Omarzai goes after the width and gets a thick outside edge down to deep third. A single taken.

Banged in shorter and right at the batter. Azmatullah Omarzai gets his hands out in front and manages to keep it down on the off side.

Azmatullah Omarzai walks in next, at number 5, replacing Atal.

OUT! ATAL MISSES OUT ON A TON! Mirage or oasis in the desert for Ireland. Is there still life in this game? A lovely short delivery, outside off, Atal goes for the hook. But he is not in control of the shot and hits it off the upper half of the bat. Hence, he is not able to generate the power to get the distance. The ball flies towards square leg, where Cade Carmichael races to his left and dives in that direction to take a wonderful catch. The 201-run stand is broken at last. AFGHANISTAN ARE 223/3, needing 76 runs from 57 balls.

No run there! Short of a length, angled across off. Sediqullah Atal stays back and dabs it down to backward point. The fielder's throw slips out of his hand and ends up at around mid off.

Short ball at the bodyline, Shah swivels and pulls it down to fine leg for one. He joins Atal on 98 as well.

Afghanistan manage 192/0 in 30 overs of Powerplay 2. Ireland could manage only 148/3 in that phase. After 40 overs, Afghanistan are 222/2. At the same stage, Ireland were 197/5. Powerplay 3 has been signalled. 5 fielders allowed outside the circle till the end. Liam McCarthy is back on. 7-1-23-2 so far.

200-RUN STAND IS UP! In 187 balls.

Tossed up, around middle and off, SA drives it towards long off for one.

Full and on middle, Sediqullah drives it back to the bowler.

Short, outside off, Rahmat Shah punches it through point for a run. 79 more needed from 63 balls.

Tossed up, outside off, Atal drives this through the covers for a single.

Landed outside off, Sediqullah Atal goes back and steers it behind point for a couple.

Full and around off, angling in, Rahmat drives it back to the bowler.

On a length, down the leg side, Sediqullah looks to flick but misses. The ball goes off the pads to short fine leg and a quick leg bye is taken.

Outside off, punched through point for a run.

FOUR! Another fine shot. A good short ball, around off, Rahmat Shah goes for the pull but does not quite hit it from the middle of the bat. However, he manages to get it over the infield and beats deep mid-wicket to his left.

On a length, around off, Atal works it towards short mid-wicket for a single. 89 more needed from 70 balls.

Full and wide outside off, Sediqullah Atal leans and drives it through the covers. Sweeper gets across and slides to his left, keeping the batters to a couple.

Short, outside off, pace off, Rahmat Shah looks to cut but gets a bottom edge on the bounce to the keeper.

Around off, Sediqullah Atal goes back and works it through square leg for a single.

Another beauty. Perfect off break, drifting in from around the wicket, and then spinning and bouncing past the outside edge, as SA misses his drive.

Outside off, short of a length, Sediqullah looks to chop it to point and run but is sent back.

FOUR! Helped away. Down the leg side, Atal gets down on a knee and pull-sweeps it to the fine leg fence. Moves to 90 (100).

Full, outside off, Sediqullah Atal looks to drive but misses.

Harry Tector returns. 4-0-24-0 so far.

On middle and off, worked through mid-wicket for a brace. 10 runs from the over.

On a length, outside off, Sediqullah punches it through the covers for a single. 200 UP FOR AFGHANISTAN, 99 more needed from 79 balls.

FOUR! PUMMELLED! Dropped short, outside off, Sediqullah Atal pulls it through square leg. The fielder in the deep hares to his left and dives, but the ball goes through.

Landed on a good length, outside off, Atal punches it through point for a couple.

Full and outside off, Sediqullah Atal drives it straight back to the bowler.

On a good length, outside off, Rahmat Shah punches it through the point zone for a single.

This is interesting. Rashid Khan has come out with a pair of gloves and a message for Rahmat Shah. Curtis Campher returns. 4-0-22-0 so far.

Hoey keeps the length relatively short, on middle and leg. Atal gets side on inside the crease and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Shorter and turning away from off, dabbed off the back foot towards backward point for one more.

Dragged length, this one goes across the left-hander. Sediqullah Atal rocks back and pushes it tentatively to mid off and sets off for a single. However, there is a mix-up between the batters but the mid off fielder is unable to release the throw cleanly.

Floated up around off, turning back in. Atal stays low and waits back, gliding it behind point for a couple of easy runs.

Flighted up on middle, Atal looks to reach for it and flick but gets it off the inner half of the blade to mid-wicket.

Tossed up, full on leg, drifting in. Shah makes room and drives it back past the bowler, towards long off for a single.

Back of a length, pushed wide of the off stump. Shah leans on a bit and taps it to sweeper cover for another single. 112 needed now off 90 balls.

Slower ball outside off, just guided away through backward point for a run.

Short of a good length, around off and nibbling away. Atal looks to cut but misses.

MISFIELD, FOUR! Pitched fuller at the stumps, flicked away uppishly and past mid-wicket. Substitute Ben Calitz in the deep runs to his left but puts in a lazy dive and goes over the ball, allowing the ball to trickle onto the ropes.

Dug in well short around off, Shah stays back and just angles the pull down through backward square leg for a single.

Bowled back of a length, on off. Rahmat Shah stands tall to defend.

Quicker and flatter, skidding across off. Atal hops back and jams it out to short extra cover.

Good length on off, tucked across to mid-wicket from inside the crease.

Shorter one around off, drifted in a bit. Shah punches it away past covers and turns the strike over.

Tossed up around off, Atal goes for the sweep again but miscues it down to deep third for a single.

A bit of an appeal for LBW, turned down by the umpire. Seemed to be turning past the off stump. Tossed up on middle, Sediqullah Atal lunges for the sweep but the ball just skids on and hits Atal on the pads.

Dragged shorter and outside off, eased off the back foot and through cover-point for a single.

Time for a DRINKS BREAK. This has been a fine contest between these two teams, but as the game wears on, Afghanistan seem to be growing in confidence and they are sneaking ahead in the chase. Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal have put on an unbeaten 155-run stand thus far, and if both of them stick around for about 10 or so overs more, the visitors will be in control. Ireland need wickets, as simple as that. With 122 needed off 102 balls, and 8 wickets in hand, Afghanistan should get over the line, but you never know. Let's get back to the action.

Another single to end the over, 10 runs off it. Back of a length, in and around, guided off the back foot to deep third for a run.

Pitched up on off, angling in, Atal walks inside the line and punches it down to long on for one more.

Hard length in the channel, Shah looks to play it in front of square on the off side but gets an inside edge to backward square leg. A single taken.

Full and straight, driven down to the right of mid on for an easy single.

SIX! Put away with disdain! Marginally short on middle, Sediqullah Atal picks the length in a trice and just whacks it up and over deep mid-wicket for a huge six.

Swing and a miss! Pitched fuller and outside off, Sediqullah Atal looks to hit through the line but misses out as the ball goes past the outside edge.

Jai Moondra is back on, replacing Liam McCarthy in the attack.

A bit short again, it is the leg break that turns. Shah rocks back to cut but chops it down in front of point. A couple of tidy overs from Hoey from this end.

Flatter one attacking the stumps, Shah works it across to mid-wicket.

Fractionally short and outside off, cut away to the left of deep backward point. The fielder in the deep makes a fine stop and keeps it down to two runs.

Pushed through quicker and fuller on off, driven straight to cover.

Well bowled! A googly now, drifted into the legs. Rahmat Shah backs away to cut but gets cramped and nearly chops it onto the stumps off the pads.

Hoey drags it down a bit, on the fifth stump line. This is smacked off the back foot to mid off for a single.

A slight halt in play. It seems like the Afghan skipper Rahmat Shah is feeling a bit of discomfort around his right knee. The physio comes out with the magic spray and the batters also rehydrate themselves.

shorter in length, angled across off. Atal gets on his toes and dabs it wide of the cover fielder for another quick single.

FOUR! Wow, what a shot! Good-length delivery outside off, Sediqullah Atal just gets on the front foot and punches the lofted drive over covers and picks up four runs.

Too full, in fact, a low full toss on off. Shah drives it straight back and the bowler deflects it to extra cover in the follow-through. Shah pinches a quick single.

A bit of an appeal for LBW, but the umpire turns it down. Probably sliding down leg. Full of a good length on middle, jags back in sharply and catches Rahmat Shah on the front pad.

FOUR! Shah has played the short ball brilliantly all day long. A skiddy bumper over middle, hooked away wide of long leg for a boundary.

Back of a length, around middle, hitting the deck hard. Shah stays bak to defend.

Flatter delivery on off, stabbed off the back foot towards mid-wicket. Hoey ends with a couple of dots.

Dragged length around off, punched off the back foot and straight to cover.

Slogged away high in the air, but it lands safely. Tossed up outside off, Sediqullah Atal sits down for the slog sweep but gets a top edge that falls in between the deep mid-wicket and deep square leg fielders. Atal picks up two runs as well.

Flighted up on middle and leg, Shah drives it along the carpet and down to long off for one more.

Fuller and flatter around off, Atal lunges across and drags the sweep to deep backward square leg for a run.

Nagging length around off, turning in a bit. Atal presses back and defends it down the pitch.

A change of ends for Gavin Hoey. He's conceded 38 runs in his 4 overs so far.

Full and slanted into the pads, flicked away through square leg for yet another single. 150 UP FOR AFGHANISTAN! 149 needed now off 126 balls.

Tap and run! McCarthy attacks the top of off stump, Shah just nudges it down with soft hands towards cover and picks up a quick single.

Another single as Atal tugs the good-length delivery off the pads and down to long leg.

Hammered into the deck, slanted into the hips. Shah misses the tuck and gets it off the thigh pads to fine leg. A leg bye signalled.

Fuller now and outside off, Atal scythes it towards deep backward point and turns the strike over.

Back of a length, on off, Shah punches it down to point, where Curtis Campher fumbles it behind and concedes a single.

Liam McCarthy (5-1-8-2) is back on.

On middle and leg, flicked away behind square leg for a single. 9 off that over.

FOUR! Slightly streaky. Flatter one on off, turns away as well. Rahmat Shah rocks back to cut but gets more off an outside edge and past backward point for a boundary.

That will be FIFTY FOR ATAL! Good length on off, eased off the back foot and through backward point for a run. Sediqullah Atal is having a series to remember as he brings up his 3rd ODI half century.

looped up, full and drifting into the stumps. Atal digs it back to the bowler.

Shorter, turning into the hips, worked away off the back foot to long leg for a single.

Tossed up on off, Shah lunges to drive but gets an inside edge past the square leg fielder and picks up a couple of runs. Excellent running.

Landed outside off, short and googly, SA goes back and pushes it behind point for a couple, to move to 49.

Full and down the leg side, Rahmat flicks it through square leg for a run.

Quicker, outside off, short of full, Rahmat Shah reaches out and guides it straight to short third.

Another wrong 'un, Sediqullah leans and works it through mid-wicket for a single. The stand moves to 110 (126).

SIX! UP AND OVER! Nifty footwork. Tossed up, outside off, Atal comes down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it cleanly over mid off. There is no one at long off but would not have mattered. The ball clears the ropes with ease. 168 more needed from 142 balls.

The leggie needs to be slower through the air.

The googly, around off, shorter in length, Sediqullah Atal defends it back down the pitch.

Landed outside off, short in length, Rahmat punches it straight to cover where Curtis Campher loses his footing and the ball goes through. Two runs taken by the time the throw comes back.

Short, outside off, Rahmat Shah goes back and steers it towards short third.

Landed outside off, on a fuller length, SA pushes it towards cover for a single.

Full, outside off, Sediqullah looks to play the reverse sweep but misses.

Slower through the air, outside off, fuller in length, Atal comes forward to defend.

On a length, outside off, Sediqullah Atal punches it towards cover.

37/0 in the last 5 overs. Afghanistan are 122/2 after 25 overs. At the same stage, Ireland were 120/4.

FOUR! All the pressure building is released. Short and wide outside off, Rahmat Shah reaches out and punches it through point for a boundary. The 100-RUN STAND comes up, in 117 balls. What a fightback.

A good short ball, outside off, the skipper looks to pull but the ball comes very slowly off the wicket. Goes off the toe end of the bat and drops down on the leg side.

Full and straight, Sediqullah Atal works it through mid on for a run. Harry Tector gets across to field but fumbles.

Short again, outside off, Shah punches it to Cade Carmichael at the cover boundary for a single.

Pacey ball. On a length, angling in, Rahmat looks to flick but misses and is hit on the body.

Short and outside off, Rahmat Shah leaps and tries the cut but misses.

Outside off, punched through the covers for another single.

Short, outside off, Sediqullah Atal goes back and cuts it through cover for one.

Full again, outside off, SA reaches out and drives it back to the bowler.

GRIP AND TURN. Full, outside off, Sediqullah lunges to drive but the ball pitches and spins away past the outside edge.

WIDE. Full and down the leg side, Atal looks to sweep but misses.

Fuller, around middle, Rahmat Shah eases this through mid on for a run.

Short, down the leg side, Sediqullah Atal punches it through mid on for a single. The stand moves to 90 (106).

For the first time in the chase post the third over, Afghanistan get ahead of Ireland in the score comparison. After 23 overs, the visitors are 111/2, whereas at the same stage, the hosts were 109/4. This was that period where the batters had slowed down.

On a good length, around middle and leg, helped towards Carmichael at deep mid-wicket for another single.

On a good length, outside off, Shah punches this straight to Carmichael at sweeper cover for one. 189 more needed from 163 balls.

Dropped short, outside off, from around the wicket, Sediqullah Atal goes for the pull but does not connect cleanly. The ball flies off the upper half of the bat but does not carry to Cade Carmichael at deep mid-wicket. A run taken.

50 UP FOR RAHMAT SHAH! Relief for the skipper who has been having a torrid time in ODIs. He has got there in just 56 balls and after soaking the pressure early on, he has got his side back in this chase. Comes forward and works this through mid on for a single for his milestone.

A sharp bouncer, outside off, Rahmat pushes at it but is beaten by the extra bounce.

EDGED, FOUR! On a length, outside off, Rahmat Shah pushes at it, away from his body. There is no feet movement and hence, the outside edge is generated. But the ball flies through the vacant slip region, beating Liam McCarthy to his left at deep third. Moves to 49.

Jordan Neill returns. 4-1-16-0 so far.

Full, around off, the skipper eases this down to long on for a run.

Full, around off, Sediqullah pushes it towards Cade Carmichael at cover who misfields and concedes another single. The stand moves to 80 (98).

Around off, punched through the covers for a run.

On a good length, outside off, Rahmat punches it through the covers. Jai Moondra takes a bit of a while to get to the ball from sweeper, to his right and the batters return for the second. 100 UP FOR AFGHANISTAN, 199 more needed from 171 balls.

Fractionally short, outside off, Rahmat Shah punches it through the covers where Gavin Hoey gets across and slides to his left, to stop the ball.

Full and around off, Atal pushes it with soft hands towards cover and takes a quick single.

WIDE. Down the leg side, Sediqullah Atal misses his flick.

Harry Tector comes on now.

FOUR! POUNDED! Another bad ball. Short and wide outside off, Rahmat Shah stands tall and slaps it over point for a boundary. 11 from the over, 22 in the last 2! Rahmat moves to 41 (49).

On a good length, outside off, Rahmat feels for it but misses.

OVERTHROW. Ireland getting sloppy in the middle now. On a good length, outside off, Rahmat Shah punches it straight to point. Should have been just a single but the fielder has a needless shy at the keeper's end, with no one backing up. By the time fine leg can get across, the batters return for the second. The stand moves to 70 (91).

Back of a length, around middle, Sediqullah rises with the bounce and dabs it to the leg side for a single. 209 more needed from 177 balls.

On a length, outside off, Atal punches it towards cover.

FOUR! Fine shot. Dropped short, around off, Sediqullah Atal pulls it through mid-wicket and the ball races away to the fence! Once again, the bowler is under pressure with the first ball going for a boundary.

Afghanistan gaining some momentum here. 36/0 in the last 5 overs. After 20 overs, Afghanistan are 85/2. At the same stage, Ireland were 99/4. The gap is reducing now.

Dragged length around off, punched off the back foot but Shah can't get it past Harry Tector at short cover once again.

FOUR! The Afghans are laying into the leggie. An in-drifter on the pads, Shah sits down and sweeps it away past the short fine leg fielder and helps himself to a boundary.

Excellent fielding! A loopy delivery, floated full and wide outside off. Rahmat Shah laces the cover drive but Harry Tector makes a sharp stop down to his right at short cover.

Down the leg side, Sediqullah goes back and nudges it through square leg for a single.

Landed outside off, the googly, Atal pushes but misses.

SIX! PLUNDERED! Tossed up, around off, Sediqullah Atal gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it way over mid-wicket, immediately putting pressure on the leggie. 219 more needed from 185 balls.

Pitched fuller on off, angling it in. Shah plays a lovely on drive but drills it straight to the fielder at mid on.

Not good. The camera pans on Ben Calitz who has come on the field as a substitute. GEORGE DOCKRELL IS GOING OFF THE FIELD, apparently with a leg injury.

FOUR! High on the bat, but Shah gets enough power on it. A heavy-length ball, shortish and on middle. Shah forces the pull up and over the mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Length ball, slanted back in towards off. Rahmat Shah gets on the front foot and plays it with a straight bat towards mid off.

On a good length, outside off, Rahmat Shah punches it straight to point.

Outside off, short in length, Atal flays it away, but finds sweeper cover. Just a single. 229 more needed from 190 balls.

On a good length, around middle and off, Sediqullah Atal rises with the bounce and drops it to the leg side.

That should settle the nerves for the leggie. The sun has gone back behind the clouds but the wind's intensity seems to have come down a touch.

Tossed full and wide outside off, Sediqullah Atal steps out but gets too close to the pitch of the ball, slicing the lofted shot towards sweeper cover for a single.

Flatter on middle and off, Shah backs away and cuts it to deep point for one more.

Full ball on the pads, swept down to the left of deep backward square leg for just a single. Good fielding in the deep from Curtis Campher.

Tossed up, around off, another wrong 'un, Atal reaches out and pushes it towards cover.

Indrifting delivery, but a full toss around leg stump. Rahmat Shah leans and clips it towards long on. Short mid-wicket dives to his left but cannot stop it. A run taken.

A touch short, outside off, the googly, Sediqullah Atal goes back and works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Loose from Rahmat Shah. Good-length delivery, outside off, and shaping away late. Shah's feet get stuck to the crease and he throws his hands at it, failing to make a connection.

A tad shorter, in the channel, punched away square through the off side for a single.

Back of a length, on off and middle, nurdled across to short mid-wicket.

On a good length, down the leg side, Rahmat flicks it towards fine leg for a run.

Full, on middle, Rahmat Shah drives it towards mid on.

A touch short, outside off, Sediqullah Atal plays the back foot punch. The timing is so sweet that he nearly hits it straight to the man in the deep at point! The ball lands just in front and the batters take a single. The stand moves to 40 (64).

DRINKS BREAK. That was a nervous start by the leggie. Won't be surprised if Afghanistan put their foot down against the spinners. Pace is creating some problems, in terms of bounce and movement, and these batters are good players of spin. At this point in time, the home side has definitely got off to a good start. But the visitors are experienced enough to understand that 50 overs is a long time. The required rate is 7 anything upto 8 is fairly manageable. They will aim to try and build on this resurrecting stand, and slowly up the run rate. In the modern age, a gap of upto 40 at the end of the 40th over between runs required and balls remaining is achievable. Ireland did the same way. Remember, they hammered 101 runs in the last 10 overs alone. Key to scoring big is keeping wickets in hand. Ireland's bowling will be tested if they don't keep picking up wickets.

Shorter one on off, stabbed off the back foot and to the right of the diving bowler. Atal gets a single as the mid off fielder cuts it off. 12 off that over.

Flatter now around leg, the length is pulled back as well. Atal presses back to defend.

FOUR! A shot of class and that should get Atal going. Floated up, very full and outside off. Sediqullah Atal leans on and strokes it past extra cover for a boundary.

Very full, outside off, jabbed towards cover.

Outside off, punched through point for a single.

SIX! POWERFUL! A big drag down. Around off, Rahmat Shah rocks back and pulls it mercilessly over mid-wicket. It is a flat hit and the ball clears the ropes with ease. 50 UP FOR AFGHANISTAN. 244 more needed from 209 balls. The stand moves to 33 (58).

19/0 in the last 5 overs. After 15 overs, Afghanistan are 49/2. At the same stage, Ireland were 81/3. Time for spin as Gavin Hoey is given the ball.

Past the outside edge. On a good length, outside off, Sediqullah feels for the ball but the ball pitches and moves away, nearly taking the outside edge. Decent start by Campher as well.

On a good length, just around off, angling in, Atal works it towards short mid-wicket.

Full and just outside off, from around the wicket, Sediqullah Atal defends solidly.

Back of a length, outside off, Shah eases this past a diving point's right, for a single to sweeper.

Similar ball, this time Rahmat punches it through the covers for a well-run couple.

Curtis Campher to bowl now. And immediately on the mark. On a good length just outside off, Rahmat Shah looks to dab it to the off side but the ball pitches and holds its line, beating the outside edge.

FOUR! A loosener to end the over. Short and down the leg side, Sediqullah Atal gets outside the line and pull-helps it to the fine leg fence.

Fuller, but down the leg side. RS clips it towards fine leg for a single.

Another short ball, outside off, the skipper pulls it through square leg for a brace. 258 more needed from 218 balls.

On a good length, outside off, rising higher, Shah defends it towards cover.

Shorter, outside off, good bounce, Rahmat cuts it behind point. Should have been just a single but Jai Moondra, running across to his right from deep point, fumbles and concedes the second.

On a length, outside off, Rahmat Shah punches it through point where Curtis Campher dives to his left and makes a wonderful stop. The crowd appreciates that.

Change of gloves for the batters. And one suspects, a message from the dressing room. Time to shift gears.

Full, around off, Atal works it off the inner half towards mid on. Another frugal over, yielding just a solitary run.

On a good length, at middle and off, Sediqullah Atal defends by getting right behind the line.

A short ball, down the leg side, the skipper gets outside the line and pulls it along the ground to deep backward square leg for a single.

On a good length, around off, angling in, Shah hops and nudges it to the leg side.

On a good length, around middle and off, Rahmat punches it towards mid on.

Full, around off, Rahmat Shah stays leg side of the ball and drives it towards mid off.

Oh my... McCarthy comes charging in, but loses his runup.

On a length, outside off, Rahmat works it through square leg for a single.

A short ball, outside off, too much bounce. Rahmat Shah initially looks to let it go, but then decides to go for the pull. In the end, he plays it awkwardly with both feet in the air, keeping the ball on the ground. Well played, but had he left it alone, he would have got a wide.

A bit too straight, short and down the leg side, Sediqullah swivels to pull but misses. The ball goes off his body towards square leg and the batters take a leg bye.

WIDE. A bouncer, in the bowler's arc, goes well over the batter's head. and even down the leg side.

Full and straight, Atal watchfully works it to the leg side.

Neill continues to bash the back of a length area. Outside off, this one generates steep bounce, Sediqullah Atal rises with the bounce and drops it down on the pitch to the leg side.

On a length, outside off, Rahmat Shah works it through square leg for a single.

Full and around off, pushed into the leg side.

On a length, around middle, Atal nudges it towards square leg and sets off for a single, but then changes his mind.

On a length, outside off, worked through mid-wicket for a single.

A touch short, outside off, Rahmat cuts it straight to point.

Down the leg side, Sediqullah Atal worked through square leg for a single.

Full and straight, defended back to the bowler.

Another dot ball to end the over, just a boundary off it. Bowled a bit short and outside off, Shah stays upright and stabs it down in front of point. Afghanistan are 30/2 after the first 10 overs, chasing 299 for the win.

A peach from Neill. The in-between length, lands it around off and gets it to straighten down the track. Rahmat Shah looks to defend but the ball breezes past the outside edge.

On a good length, in and around off, Shah gets well forward and defends it off.

Should have been put away! Short and wide, there to be hit, but Rahmat smacks it straight down to the point fielder.

Just back of a length, on the fifth stump line and going straight on. Shah shoulders arms.

FOUR! That's a fine shot. Short ball around off, Rahmat Shah hangs back and hooks it away past square leg for his first boundary of the game.

Straying on the pads again, Atal tucks it firmly and wide to the right of fine leg, picking up a couple of runs.

Shah is finally off the mark. Too straight in line, clipped off the pads and down to fine leg for a single.

Back of a length, angling across off, punched off the back foot but straight to point. 11 dots in a row for Afghanistan.

Good length, around the top of off, Shah confidently strides forward and pushes it to cover.

It has come to a standstill with the bat for Afghanistan right now. A bit fuller around leg, shaping back in. Rahmat Shah looks to work it away but wears it on the pads. Again, going down leg.

A length ball, angled across the off stump, slides right on. Shah makes a leave.

Neill starts with a maiden! Fuller than a good length, slanted well into the pads. Atal fails to flick it away, and the ball goes off the pads to the leg side. A muted appeal for LBW, but that's going well down leg.

Good-length delivery, naturally angling in from the fifth stump line. Atal leaves it alone.

Inviting the drive, and beats the bat. Fuller and outside off, seems to be holding its line but moves away late. Sediqullah Atal goes for the booming cover drive but gets beaten past the outside edge.

Shorter in length just outside off, Sediq rises with the bounce and taps it down to point.

Back of a length, in the channel, doesn't rise much. Sediqullah Atal blocks it off the back foot.

Jordan Neill comes into the attack. He starts on a nagging length, sliding it in towards off. Atal blocks it off.

Fuller one in the channel, looking for the inswing, but the ball goes straight on. Shah shoulders arms.

Flies off the outer half of the blade, but lands safely. Banged in short and outside off, angling away, Atal is tentative but goes after it and slashes it on the bounce to deep third for a run.

Moondra pulls the length back, bowling it straighter as well. Atal presses on the toes and blocks it just to the leg side.

Edged, but drops short! Good length, in the channel, just holding its line. Sediqullah Atal looks to defend with soft hands but gets an outside edge on the bounce to Andy Balbirnie at second slip.

Pitched on a fuller length again, outside off, Atal plays a flowy drive but hits it straight to cover-point.

A big appeal for LBW, turned down by the umpire. A full ball on middle and leg, darting back in. Sediqullah Atal leans on to flick but misses and gets pinged on the front pad. Seemed to be angling down leg. Also, there were two noises, but replays later show that the ball hit the pads and nothing else.

On a length, outside off, Rahmat feels for it but the ball moves away to beat the outside edge. WICKET MAIDEN from McCarthy, whose bowling figures read a stunning 3-1-5-2!

Landed outside off, solidly defended.

On a length, outside off, Rahmat Shah punches it towards cover.

Skipper Rahmat Shah walks in next, at number 4, replacing Gurbaz.

OUT! BY GEORGE, DOCKRELL STUNS! It is also his 50TH CATCH IN ODI CRICKET. What a catch. On a length, outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz swings for the hills but hits this a touch too early. As a result, he gets a lot of height, but not the distance. The ball just about clears mid on but Dockrell over there follows the trajectory, and runs back, back and back, covering nearly 30 yards. Turns around a bit as well but does not lose focus. Eventually, takes the catch and dives forward! That is an absolutely world-class catch. Double blow to Afghanistan as Gurbaz goes cheaply. AFGHANISTAN ARE 22/2, NEED 277 FROM 267!

A touch shorter, around middle, Gurbaz is behind the line to defend it down the pitch.

Aha... On a length, at the stumps, Rahmanullah Gurbaz charges down the track and swings hard, but misses the ball totally. The ball just about grazes the bails on its way to the keeper, travelling over middle.

After 5 overs. Afghanistan are 22/1. At the same stage, Ireland were 27/0.

Full and around off, SA works it towards short mid-wicket.

On a good length, around middle, Sediqullah gets right behind the line and defends it towards mid on.

WIDE. Total loss of radar. Moondra slips this way down the leg side, Atal does not even bother about the flick.

Landed on a good length, outside off, extra bounce, Rahmanullah dabs it behind point for a single.

EDGED, FOUR! Fuller length, outside off, angling away, Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes hard on the drive and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies in the air, but luckily for him, it is in the gap between backward point and point, racing to the fence behind. 279 more needed from 273 balls.

On a good length, around middle and off, Sediqullah Atal looks to defend but misses. The ball goes off the pads towards cover and the batters take a leg bye.

No run. Swing and a miss! The batter swings hard at that one but does not connect.

Didn't that take the edge? The bowler certainly feels so, but no one from behind the wickets appeals. Short of a length, outside off, Gurbaz goes for the cut but the ball lands on the seam and then moves away a mile, wobbling in the air, beating his attempted shot. A wicket and just a solitary run from the over, Liam McCarthy's bowling figures read 2-0-5-1 so far.

Oopss... a Mohammad Saleem moment. Liam McCarthy comes running in, but just at the point of delivery, loses his runup.

Short of full, outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pushes it towards gully.

On a good length, around off, Sediqullah Atal pushes it towards point for a single to get off the mark.

Sediqullah Atal walks in next, at number 3, replacing Ibrahim Zadran.

OUT! TOP EDGE AND TAKEN! Early strike from Ireland and it is of the highly consistent Ibrahim. The maestro is bounced out actually. A quick short ball, around off, Zadran goes for the pull, but is beaten by pace and bounce. The ball is through before the bat can come down completely and hence, the top edge is induced. The ball goes straight up in the air and the keeper, Lorcan Tucker, calls for it. Runs to his right a touch and pouches it safely. A rare failure for Zadran and Afghanistan are 14/1 in a chase of 299!

On a good length again, outside off, decent bounce once more, Ibrahim rises with the bounce and punches it towards cover.

On a good length, around off, steep bounce, Ibrahim Zadran punches it towards point.

The sun is out in full glory for the first time in the day. Also, a heavy breeze is blowing across the ground.

On a length, outside off, pace off, angling away, Gurbaz punches it towards cover. Good comeback by the bowler after the first 2 boundary balls.

A quick ball. Short and wide outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz slashes hard but is beaten by pace and bounce.

Full and straight, RG defends it back down the pitch.

The length is held back now, around off, angling away, Rahmanullah lets it pass.

FOUR MORE! Better connection, same result. A touch fuller, around middle and leg, Gurbaz stands still and powers it over mid on once more, for a boundary after a couple of bounces. Two in two.

FOUR! MURDERED! Gurbaz gets his first boundary now. On a length, around middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz backs away to the leg side and swings it, albeit a bit higher of the bat, over mid on for a boundary. 289 more needed from 287 balls.

Full, around middle, hint of away shape, Zadran looks to work it to the leg side but gets a bit of a leading edge towards cover.

On a length again, outside off, good bounce, IZ punches it towards cover.

EDGED, FOUR! The first boundary of the chase is fortuitous. On a length, around off, Ibrahim Zadran looks to punch it through the off side but the ball takes the outside edge and flies past second slip. There is deep third but the ball goes too fine to his left, into the fence.

Ooohhh.. almost gets his man. On a good length, slightly wider outside off, Ibrahim looks to punch it through the off side but the ball pitches and moves away off the seam, beating the outside edge.

On a length, around off, defended solidly again.

On a good length, around off, steep bounce, Ibrahim Zadran gets right behind the line to defend.

Remember, no Mark Adair in this game. So Ireland will need a strong case to strike with the new balls. There is not much experience in the bowling attack for this match. Liam McCarthy will bowl with the second new ball.

A good, tight start from Moondra. On a length, closer to the off stump, holding its line, Gurbaz watches it go past.

Both openers are off the mark now. On a length, outside off, IZ looks to punch it through the off side, but gets a thick outside edge behind gully towards deep third. A run taken.

A full toss now, hint of inswing, Zadran drives but cannot get it past Harry Tector at mid off, who gets across quickly to his left.

Fuller, slightly wide outside off, angling away, Ibrahim reaches out to drive but mistimes it towards cover.

Fuller, around off, Ibrahim Zadran punches it towards cover.

A good short ball, at the ribs, Rahmanullah Gurbaz tucks it towards square leg and gets off the mark immediately with a single.

Ireland won't get to 300. A low full toss, on middle and leg, Gaving digs it out towards long on and Campher drags him back for the second. The throw is a weak one to the keeper and the run out chance is not capitalized. IRELAND FINISH ON 298/7!

FOUR! IMPERIOUS! Hoey can whack the ball too. A short ball again, outside off, Hoey pulls it powerfully and beats deep mid-wicket to his left. 4 runs needed for the 300-mark.

Dropped short, outside off, Jordan Neill pulls it powerfully but finds deep mid-wicket. Just a single. Just 2 runs off the first 4 deliveries.

A slower ball, on a length, outside off, Hoey swings but misses. Neill rightly calls him through for a bye. The batters nearly collide but the throw from the keeper is a slow one to the bowler and Hoey makes it to the other end.

Another dot ball. Yorker, outside off, Gavin Hoey cannot get bat on ball.

Gavin Hoey walks in next, at number 9, replacing Campher.

OUT! CAMPHER FALLS FOR 96! More importantly, a dot ball for Afghanistan. But a terrific knock nevertheless. Full and outside off, Curtis Campher gets underneath the ball and powers it through the covers, but cannot get full elevation. It goes flat towards cover where Rahmat Shah takes it with a leap. A quickfire 64-run stand has been broken and IRELAND ARE 290/7 WITH 5 BALLS LEFT.

Final over then. Ireland need 10 for 300. Campher needs 4 for a 100.

Excellent over from Omarzai.10 from the over but there was only one boundary. On a length, outside off, Campher mistimes his punch towards cover and gets a single. 10-0-74-3 for Azmatullah Omarzai.

A full toss, but unpunished. Neill swings it away, but finds deep mid-wicket on the bounce. Just another single.

Very full, outside off, just short of the yorker mark, but CC can only get a single through a drive towards sweeper cover.

Dropped short, around off, Jordan Neill pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Wide yorker, outside off, Curtis reaches out and squeezes it to sweeper cover. Takes the single, wants the second but is sent back. The stand moves to 60 (33).

FOUR! Into the 90s! Fuller, outside off, Campher looks to go over covers but ends up getting a thick outside edge. The ball flies over short third and gives him the desired result any which ways towards deep third.

WIDE. Omarzai goes get the wide yorker outside off, but it is too wide, beyond the guideline. Curtis Campher tries to reach out but misses. Number 17 of the innings.

Yorker, outside off, Campher squeezes it to short third for another single. 12 from the over, 44 in the last 3!

SIX! HAMMERED! Number 4 for Campher! Slower delivery again, on a length, outside off, Curtis Campher backs away to the leg side, waits for the ball and swings it cleanly over long off! The ball goes into the crowd but this time, it is not taken. 50-RUN STAND IS UP, IN 30 BALLS!

Priceless dot ball. Slower delivery, on a length, outside off, CC goes back and punches, but finds Rahmat Shah at cover.

A high full toss, around middle, Jordan Neill is unable to put it away, punching it down to long on for just one.

Another leg cutter, outside off, Curtis pushes this towards point for a run.

On a length, around middle and off, Campher slogs this over the non-striker down to long on for a couple. Moves to 81 (75).

WIDE. Number 16 of the innings, to go with a no ball. That's 17 - nearly 3 extra overs already! Saleem goes for the leg cutter but executes it poorly, Floated outside leg, Curtis Campher looks to sweep but misses.

How the complexion has changed in the last 2 overs! All of a sudden, 300 seems on now. Mohammad Saleem returns. 8-1-43-0 so far.

Finally, Azmat nails the yorker. Outside off, Curtis digs it out towards point for a single. 18 from the over, 32 in the last 2!

Landed outside off, sliced over point for a couple. The stand moves to 41 (24).

FOUR! They are taking on Afghanistan's best bowler of the day! A short ball, around off, Curtis Campher arches back and ramps it over short third for a boundary!

On middle, punched down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Off the outside edge this time. On a length, outside off, Neill throws his bat at it and ends up getting a thick outside edge which flies over point. Beats deep point to his left. The stand moves to 34 (21).

SIX! FETCH THAT! The fourth six of the innings and someone other than Campher makes an entry in this department. Slower ball, on a length, around off, Jordan Neill picks the length in a trice and wallops it over deep square leg. The ball sails into the criwd again and another spectator takes a specie!

4 overs left. 10 an over takes the hosts to 290.

Very full, outside off, JN works it towards long on for one. 14 from the over, 250 UP FOR IRELAND! Also, Ziaur Rahman bowls out. 10-0-53-0 for him.

Full, outside off, Jordan pumps this down to long on for another brace.

Good combined fielding. In fact, good cricket overall. Neill slaps this through the covers and the ball races away. But AM Ghazanfar races to his left from sweeper cover and dives to stop the ball. He does stop it, but gets hit on the leg. He is limping but Nangeyalia Kharote races across from point, picks the ball up and fires the throw, keeping the batters to a couple.

Excellent yorker on the Free Hit. Outside off, Jordan Neill cannot get it away.

FREE HIT TIME!

Fuller, outside off, Campher punches it through the covers. Rahmanullah Gurbaz fires a quick throw at the bowler's end but Campher dives in, although the throw misses its mark. Oh dear. The umpire stretches his right hand which means that Ziaur has overstepped. NO BALL signalled!

SIX! CHEEKY! Third six of the innings, all from Campher! Dug in short, outside off, angling in, Curtis Campher arches back and then, using the pace of the bowler, ramps it over short third. But the connection is so sweet that the ball goes all the way! Campher moves to 71 (70).

On a length, outside off, sliced through point for a single.

39/1 in the last 5 overs. Can Ireland get a few more in the next 5?

A full toss, down the leg side, Curtis misses out, flicking it straight to AM Ghazanfar at short fine leg.

Full ball on middle, angling in. Neill stays put and whips it down to long on for one more.

Full and straight, Campher works it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

FOUR! Innovative and effective! Length ball, attacking the top of off stump. Curtis Campher gets across to the off side, goes on one knee and scoops it between the keeper and short fine leg for a boundary.

Finally, Neill gets off the mark. On the 6th ball. Jumps down the track and Omarzai follows him down the leg side. But Jordan pushes it towards point for the single.

Good-length delivery, looking to slide one past the inside edge. Campher tucks it down behind square leg and collects a single.

What a wonderful over. Just 2 runs from it. Full and straight, Jordan gets right behind the line to block.

Swing and a miss! Jordan Neill is itching to get off the mark here. Slightly slower, dug in short and wide. Neill gives the charge and backs away to open up the off side, but fails to connect.

On a good length, around off, Jordan Neill stays leg side of the ball and pushes it towards point. The fielder fumbles and Neill is desperate to get off the mark, wanting the single but is sent back.

Just short of a good length, angled back in from around off. Jordan Neill stays back and punches it down to point.

On middle and off, pushed back to the bowler.

Back of a length, angled into the body, tucked away to the right of mid-wicket for an easy single.

WIDE! Banged in short, but well wide of the off stump line. Campher plays and misses, and a wide is called. 15th of this innings.

Jordan Neill walks in next, at number 8, replacing Dockrell.

OUT! CAUGHT! Omarzai breaks the 72-run stand and picks up his third wicket. Double bluff from him. Before this ball, he pushed square leg and fine leg back. The message went to the batter that a slower bouncer might be on the cards. Hence, George Dockrell moved slightly to the leg side. But Omarzai smartly slipped in a fuller ball, of course changing the pace and caught Dockrell off guard. He looked to adjust and tried to hit it over mid off but got sucked into the trap. Ends up hitting it off the bottom of the bat towards mid off where Rahmat Shah makes no mistake. End of a wonderful knock from Dockrell playing his first game of the series. IRELAND ARE 226/6 AFTER 43 OVERS!

Pitched a bit fuller on middle, darting back in. Dockrell watchfully blocks it off.

FOUR! Great shot from Dockrell now. A touch short, around middle, George Dockrell goes back and pulls it through square leg to find the fence. His third boundary in a score of 31 (33). The stand is now worth 72 (55)!

Hard length, angled into the body. Campher flicks it off the hips and in front of square leg for a run.

SIX! FEROCIOUS! Second of the match and both by Campher. Omarzai misses his length, landing it in the slot, around off. Curtis Campher gives himself a tinge of room to the leg side and smacks it over wide long on! The ball sails into the crowd where a spectator takes the catch nicely.

Dockrell nearly gets chopped on. Pitched on a fuller length, on off. Dockrell plays away from the body and looks to drive but gets an inside edge past the stumps and towards short fine leg for a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai is back on. 6-0-26-2 so far.

Short, outside off, GD goes back and cuts it fiercely. The ball goes to the right of short third where the fielder dives to his right and gets a hand on the ball. Takes some pace off but cannot stop the ball from going behind. By the time a fielder can retrieve it, three runs are taken.

Flatter one on the pads, Dockrell brings out the sweep and shovels it down to fine leg. Azmatullah Omarzai runs around to his right from deep backward square leg and cuts it off, keeping it down to a brace.

Quicker ball, around off, George clips it towards short mid-wicket.

Flighted delivery, full and on the pads, flicked away down to fine leg for one more.

On middle and off, Dockrell clips it through square leg for a run.

WIDE. Number 14. Full and down the leg side, George Dockrell gets down to paddle but misses.

FIFTY FOR CURTIS CAMPHER! He goes back-to-back, and this could turn out to be a vital knock. Sliding in towards off, on a good length and Campher punches it away wide of point for a single.

More messages from the dressing room as the Irish batters call for another unofficial drinks break.

A full toss, outside off, Campher hammers it through the covers where the fielder is unable to stop it cleanly and concedes a single.

FOUR! Pulled, and pulled brilliantly. Slower short ball on middle, sits up around chest height. Curtis Campher hits the pull hard and flat, to the left of deep backward square leg and picks up a boundary. 50-RUN STAND IS UP, IN 44 BALLS!

Very full, around middle and leg, George pushes it towards long on for a run to bring up the 200 FOR IRELAND! 56 balls left. Can they reach the 280-mark?

That's a good bumper. Dug in short and around off, comes in at around face height and Dockrell just sways his head away from the line of the ball.

A bit too full, outside off, Dockrell squeezes it behind point for a couple.

A hint of reverse on this occasion. Full and straight, swinging back in. George Dockrell steps out to lace it through the off side, but gets an inside edge back onto the pads.

148/3 in 30 overs of Powerplay 2. Time for Powerplay 3. 5 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the end.

A full toss, around off, George Dockrell works it through mid-wicket for one.

WIDE. Second of the over. Full and down the leg side, GD misses out on the sweep.

Short, outside off, George punches it straight to point.

WIDE. Down the leg side, Dockrell cannot get it away.

Tossed up, around middle and leg, Curtis eases this through mid on for a run. The stand moves to 40 (37).

Full and around middle, spinning away, probably the carrom ball, Campher pushes it towards the bowler on the leg side.

Landed around off, short of full, Curtis Campher pushes it towards cover.

A touch short, down the leg side, George Dockrell nudges it to the left of short fine leg for a quick single.

Will Kharote continue? Nope. AM Ghazanfar is back on. 6-0-20-2 so far.

Short and wide outside off, George Dockrell slashes it through point for a run. Good compensating over from Saleem after Kharote's massive 38th.

On a length, outside off, angling in, GD pushes it towards point.

On a good length, outside off, nipping back in, George hops and defends it to the leg side.

Full and straight, Dockrell stays inside the line and pushes it towards cover.

On a good length, outside off, bending his back, generating extra bounce, George Dockrell rises with the bounce and guides it towards backward point.

On a length, outside off, Curtis Campher punches it through the covers for a single.

FOUR! 19 FROM THE OVER! Just the third double-digit over of the innings and by far, the most expensive one. Kharote drops it short, outside off and this time, George Dockrell punches it through the covers, beating sweeper to his right.

Outside off, punched towards sweeper cover for a run.

FOUR! CREAMED! The tap has been left open in this over. Short and wide outside off, Curtis Campher rocks back and cracks a powerful cut through the covers for a boundary! Moves to 41 (53) with his third four.

Landed outside off, George goes back and stabs it towards point for a single.

FOUR! Excellent shot. But another poor ball, full and down the leg side, Dockrell gets down on a knee and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary.

Around off, pushed to the off side.

FIVE WIDES! Festival bonanza. George Dockrell moves slightly to the leg side and Kharote tries to follow him. But the ball drifts away, lands on the footmarks and spins past the keeper to his right, when he is going to his left. The ball races to the fence behind.

On a good length, outside off, Dockrell stays back and pushes it towards deep third for another single.

Full and around middle, George Dockrell clips it towards short mid-wicket.

Landed on a length, outside off, Curtis punches this through point for one.

On a length, outside off, Campher punches it through the covers for a couple.

On middle and leg, worked behind square leg for a run.

DROPPED! In and out. Short and wide outside off, Curtis Campher cuts it hard but the ball goes straight to the fielder at point, who is probably standing a bit close. Cannot adjust to the quickness of the shot and cannot hold on. Single taken.

Mohammad Saleem returns. 5-1-27-0 so far.

Landed around middle, Dockrell makes a big move down the leg side, but then comes back across to defend.

Did that carry? Full, on middle and leg, Campher pushes this a bit uppishly back to the bowler. Kharote tries to get across to his right but the ball drops just in front and further, goes past him as Kharote tries to avoid colliding with the non-striker. Single taken.

Landed outside off, pushed to the off side.

FOUR! MAJESTIC! Tossed up, around off, Curtis Campher moves to the leg side and drives it gloriously through the covers, for his second four in a score of 32 (47).

Outside off, punched through the covers for a single.

Fuller, around off, George Dockrell lunges and pushes it to the off side.

On a good length, outside off, GD gets on top of the bounce and punches it through cover for a run.

WIDE. 10th wide of the innings. The only blemish from Afghanistan with the ball, to go with a dropped catch on the field. Ziaur slips this down the leg side and George cannot get it away.

Fuller, around off, Dockrell pushes it towards point.

A lovely length, short of full, outside off, George Dockrell pushes through the line but misses.

On middle and leg, Curtis punches this towards mid on for a single.

How has that missed the leg stump? The bowler and the keeper have their hands over their heads. On a length, around off, Campher plays a loose flick through the leg side and misses the ball totally. It comes back in, goes past the pad and misses the leg stump by a whisker!

On a good length, outside off, jagging back in sharply, Curtis Campher looks to tuck it to the leg side but misses and is hit high on the pads. Ziaur appeals for LBW but he won't get that. Too high and going down the leg side as well.

Outside leg, Dockrell tries to work it past short fine leg and starts to run straightaway, but is sent back as he cannot find the gap. A wicket and 3 runs from the over, Nangeyalia Kharote's bowling figures read 6-0-26-1 so far.

Tossed up, outside off, Campher drives it towards long off for a run.

Full and down the leg side, George Dockrell comes forward and blocks it towards mid-wicket for a single to get off the mark immediately.

As expected, the big shot results in a wicket. George Dockrell walks in next, at number 7, replacing Tector.

OUT! CAUGHT! Harry Tector gets to fifty and looks to accelerate, but he perishes. Bowled flatter by Nangeyalia Kharote and straighter at the stumps, just a hint of turn away from the right-hander as well. Tector goes down to sweep but it is the wrong shot and he gets a top edge. The ball lobs up around short fine leg, where Mohammad Saleem comes in and takes a comfortable catch. End of a 55-run partnership and Ireland are now 154/5.

Full, around off, Harry Tector works it through mid-wicket for a run.

Short, outside off, Curtis Campher goes back and cuts it to short third. The batters go through for a quick single and a better throw might have had Tector at the striker's end.

Full and straight again, defended back to the bowler once more.

Full and outside off, Tector punches it straight back to the bowler.

Misdirected down the leg side, on a length. Curtis looks to flick but misses. The ball deflects off the pads to square leg and the batters take a leg bye.

Similar ball, this time Campher punches it through the covers for a couple.

On a good length, outside off, angling in, Curtis Campher hops and defends it down the pitch.

On a length, outside off, Harry Tector comes down the track and punches it through point for a single. 150 UP FOR IRELAND!

DRINKS BREAK. What a contrasting couple of days. If you had followed the 4th ODI, you might comment that this match is meandering along. But trust us, when we say that it is not the easiest of pitches to bat on. At the pitch report, Ed Joyce predicted early seam movement and then the pitch getting flatter after the newness of the balls wears out. But on the contrary, with the balls getting older, batting has gotten difficult, with the balls now holding on the pitch. Still, Campher and Tector have done well to get a partnership going but a few overs down the line, they will have to use the long handle. One presumes that 250-260 would be a good score on this deck, but even to get till there, one of these two has to bat deep. Afghanistan have bowled well but have not quite managed to penetrate. They have been slightly indisciplined with their wides, but it is not alarming as such. With big shots around the corner, they might expect a few quick wickets now.

Around middle and off, watchfully pushed into the off side.

Short, outside off, Campher cuts it straight to point.

50-RUN STAND IS UP! It has taken a while, 78 balls, but the batters are not throwing it away. Fuller, on middle, Harry punches it towards long on for a single.

Floated, around off, Tector stays leg side of the ball and drives it straight to cover.

Fuller, on middle and leg, Curtis Campher pushes this towards long on for a run.

On the pads, worked through square leg for a single.

Outside off, punched towards point.

50 FOR HARRY TECTOR! In 72 balls, his 15th in ODIs. Gets there with a gentle clip to fine leg and taking the single. This is the 5th consecutive ODI series where Tector has at least registered one 50-plus score.

The strike is back with Tector. Full and straight, Curtis Campher blocks it with a straight bat towards the leg side and scampers through for a run.

A bit too straight, on a length, down the leg side, Harry looks to tuck it away but misses and is hit on the thigh pads. The ball deflects away and the batters take a leg bye. Stays on 49 then, does Tector.

On a good length, around off, Tector stays back and defends it towards cover.

On a length, outside off, Harry Tector punches it straight to point.

44/0 in the last 10 overs. The scoring rate has certainly come down a touch but now, more and more balls are holding on the pitch. Rahmat goes back to pace, bringing back Ziaur Rahman. 5-0-29-0 so far.

Around off, worked straight to short mid-wicket.

Around off, Campher punches it down to long on but short mid-wicket quickly gets across to stop the ball.

On middle and leg, Harry goes back and works it through fine leg for one to move to 49.

Outside off, punched towards long off for a run.

FOUR! Some free runs on offer. Short and down the leg side, Curtis Campher helps it on its way, to the left of short fine leg and finds the boundary. The stand moves to 42 (64).

Floated, around middle, Tector punches it down to long on for a single.

WIDE. Tossed up, down the leg side, Harry Tector gets down to sweep but misses.

Change of gloves for Harry Tector, one supposes. Ready to go now.

Short around middle, Harry Tector stays back and punches it towards long off for one.

Short, around off, the arm ball, skidding through, Curtis Campher punches it through cover for a run.

Down the leg side, HT tickles it to the left of short fine leg for a single.

Thrown up, outside off, Harry drives it straight to cover.

Full and fast, a bit wider of the crease from around the wicket, on middle and off, Tector defends it by coming forward.

Short, outside off, Harry Tector tries the cute late dab but finds backward point this time.

Another dot ball to finish the over. Genuinely tossed up on middle and leg, Campher flicks it straight to short mid-wicket.

Fired in down the leg side, on a fuller length, Curtis Campher works it straight to short fine leg.

Full and straight, HT punches this down to long on for a single.

Dropped short, down the leg side, Harry swivels and pulls, but finds short fine leg.

Quicker and shorter outside off, Tector goes back, and plays it late to the left of short third. Two runs taken.

Full and fast, on middle and leg, Harry Tector jumps out of his crease and drives it towards cover.

Genuine turn. Landed around off, Harry looks to punch but gets an outside edge due to the ball turning away. A single earned through point. The stand moves to 30 (50).

Quicker and flatter outside off, on a fuller length, Tector pushes it towards short third.

Outside off, pushed past the bowler towards long off for a run.

SIX! CRASH! The first of the day. Tossed up, around middle and off, Curtis Campher gets down on a knee and slog-sweeps this massively over deep mid-wicket!

Finally a run after 8 balls. On middle, punched through mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up, around leg stump, Harry Tector stays leg side of the ball and tries to go inside out, but finds cover.

AND SHAHIDI WILL GET A MAIDEN! Who says he came in just as a bowler for changing ends? Full, on middle, Curtis Campher works it straight to short mid-wicket once more.

And one more! Flighted, on middle, CC flicks it straight to short mid-wicket!

Wow. 4th dot ball of the over. Very full, around middle, Curtis punches it towards long on but the bowler gets across to his right to stop it.

Full and outside off, punched back to the bowler.

Outside off, Campher drives it through the covers but cannot get it past Ziaur Rahman.

Tossed up, on middle, Curtis Campher goes back and works it towards short fine leg.

BEATEN! Tossed up, outside off, Tector comes forward to defend but ends up playing outside the line. The ball comes in, goes between bat and pad and nearly knocks off off stump!

Full and straight, Campher lunges and pushes it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Full, outside off, Harry Tector punches it wide of long off, to his left, for a single.

Not all that full this time, on off. Curtis Campher lunges and eases it through mid off for a run.

Pushed through a bit quicker on middle, turning away. Campher gets forward to make the block.

Tossed up on middle, pretty full and sticks in the deck. Campher plays it back to the bowler.

Nangeyalia Kharote from this end? Indeed. 1-0-5-0 so far. Meanwhile, the batters call for another unofficial drinks break.

Outside off, pushed through point for one.

Full, on middle, Tector punches it through mid on for a single.

FOUR! UP AND OVER! Tossed up, outside off, Harry Tector looks to go straight back over the bowler but the bat turns slightly in his hands. As a result, he ends up slicing it, but the ball flies wide of mid off. Ziaur Rahman from there runs after it and tries to slide at the ropes, attempting to haul it back in but fails.

Length again, in and around off, pushed away to sweeper cover for a single.

A couple of inches fuller than the last one, on off stump. Punched off the back foot but straight to short cover.

On a good length, sliding it into the stumps. Tector rocks back and plays it with a vertical bat through mid on for one.

Interesting. The man playing his 100th ODI, Hashmatullah Shahidi, has been given the ball. Suspect this is for a change of ends for Kharote.

NEARLY DRAGGED ON! Full and wide outside off, Campher looks to drive it through the covers again but the ball holds on the pitch slightly and goes off the inside edge. Luckily for the batter, it hits the pads.

Thrown up outside off, pretty full, Curtis Campher leans and drives but finds cover.

Full, around off, watchfully defended.

Tossed up, fuller and outside off, Tector leans on and shows the full face of the blade, easing it down to long off for one more.

Fractionally shorter, pushed into the batter. Curtis Campher hangs back and pushes it down to the right of the diving bowler and down the ground for a single.

Tossed up on middle and leg, Campher stays leg side of the ball and plays it back to the bowler.

That was a very quick over from Kharote. He varied his pace and barely gave the batters time to think.

FOUR! Spoils the over. Fractionally short, outside off, Harry Tector picks the length in a trice and goes back. Waits for the ball to arrive and cuts it to the right of backward point for a boundary. His third in a score of 32 (47).

Full and straight, around leg stump, Tector pushes it to the right of the bowler who gets across to stop the ball.

A touch short, around off, spinning away, Harry Tector pushes it towards cover.

Fullish length, angling into the pads. Tector hops back to work it away but wears it on the pads instead.

A bit more round-arm, darted into the pads. Tector plays it with a straight bat, punching it to mid on.

On a dragged length, sits up for the batter. Campher pushes it off the back foot and down to long on for a single.

Time for a bowling change. Here's a look at Nangeyalia Kharote, with his left-arm orthodox spin.

Quicker and shorter, the carrom ball, around middle, Curtis Campher stays back and punches it through mid on for a run.

Very full, outside off, Tector digs it out towards long on for a single.

A touch short, outside off, coming in, Harry Tector stays back and punches it back to the bowler.

Floated fuller on off, Tector pushes it back and AM Ghazanfar makes a diving stop to his left in his followthrough.

Quicker and shorter around off, Curtis Campher rocks back and cuts it to deep backward point for one. 100 UP FOR IRELAND.

Sliding into the pads, Campher nudges it towards the non-striker.

That's a couple of long overs from Saleem. Without wides, mind you. Ireland have scored 50/2 in the last 10 overs. The run rate is going okay, but they need a fairly decent partnership to put themselves in a good position for the final 10 overs.

MAIDEN FROM SALEEM! Full and straight, Harry Tector pushes it towards mid off.

Another play and a miss. This one holds its line. Slightly short of full, outside off, this time HT plays for the ball coming in with the angle. But it pitches and straightens, going past the outside edge.

Outside off, on a length, pushed towards backward point.

What a jaffa! On a good length, outside off, Harry probably is expecting the ball to leave him but it jags back in a long way, cramping him for room, going between bat and body and cutting him into half!

On a length, outside off, Tector pushes it towards cover.

This is getting embarassing now. That's the fifth time in the last 4-5 balls that Saleem has missed his runup.

Full and down the leg side, Harry Tector plays all around it as he looks to flick and misses, getting hit on the pads. Saleem appeals for LBW but the umpire turns it down. Going down leg.

Here we go again. Mohammad Saleem comes running in, even takes a leap at the delivery stride but does not release the ball.

Outside off, Campher plays inside the line and is beaten. 6 runs from the first 3 balls, but none from the last 3, plus a wicket to boot. Ghazanfar's bowling figures read 4-0-15-2 so far.

Full, around off, Curtis Campher defends.

Curtis Campher walks in next, at number 6, replacing Tucker.

OUT! THROWS IT AWAY! Ghazanfar holds the length back slightly, increasing the pace a bit as well. Tucker goes for the pull but is slightly cramped for room as the ball skids through. He only manages to get a top edge which hovers around mid-wicket. The fielder in the circle at mid-wicket runs back, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a good catch running backward. Rahmanullah Gurbaz it is. So his back is fine now, it seems. From 79/2, IRELAND ARE NOW 99/4!

FOUR! CRACK! First boundary off Ghazanfar. Floated, around off, Lorcan Tucker hammers it straight back. The bowler tries to put his right hand to stop the ball but it whizzes past to the boundary down the ground.

Tossed up, full and wide outside off, Harry Tector leans and drives it to sweeper cover for a run.

Full, around middle, Lorcan Tucker goes back and punches it towards long on for a single.

Full and straight, HT drives it back to the bowler. Excellent over from the struggling Saleem.

On a good length, a bit of extra pace, outside off, nipping back in sharply, Tucker is rooted in his crease as he looks to flick and misses the ball. It hits him on his left thigh and Saleem appeals for LBW but he is never going to get that. Comfortably going down leg. The ball deflects towards point and the batters take a leg bye.

Number 3! That's the third time in this over that Saleem has missed his runup!

Play and a miss. Beautifully bowled. Angled in, on a fuller length, outside off, Lorcan Tucker comes forward to defend but the ball nips away ever so slightly to beat the outside edge.

Not once, but twice. That's two times in a row that Saleem has missed his runup.

On a good length, outside off, steep bounce, Harry punches it behind point for a single.

On a length, outside off, Tector punches it straight to point.

A well-directed bouncer, good pace, outside off, Harry Tector goes for the pull but misses as the ball goes past his vizor.

Mohammad Saleem has gone for 26 runs in his 3 overs. Easily the most expensive of the Afghan bowlers. Might warranty a bowling change. Meanwhile, the Irish batters call for an unscheduled drinks break as the dressing room sends some messages to the batters. Well, Rahmat is a very patient captain. Continues with Saleem.

Outside off, slightly short of full, extra bounce, Tucker pushes it towards backward point.

Full and straight, around off, Lorcan Tucker lunges and smothers the spin to the leg side.

Full, on middle and leg, Harry flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Outside off, pushed through the covers for a couple.

Looped up, around middle and leg, Tector defends watchfully off the front foot again.

Full, around off, Harry Tector gets a long stride in to defend it back to the bowler.

Full, around off, Tector pushes it towards cover for a quick single.

FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Harry Tector rises with the bounce and cuts hard. Gets it off the outside edge as he does not move his feet, but the edge flies over point and deep third has no chance to cut it off to his right.

Slightly short of full, Lorcan pushes it with soft hands towards mid on and calls for a quick single. Darwish Rasooli, on as a substitute, charges to the ball but fails to pick it up and the single is completed.

Banged into the deck, around middle and off, generating extra bounce, Tucker hops and defends it watchfully towards cover.

On a good length, outside off, moving away a touch, Lorcan Tucker pushes it towards cover.

On a length, around off, Harry Tector works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Outside off, pushed towards point. A wicket and 3 runs from the over, Ghazanfar's bowling figures read 2-0-6-1 so far.

Full, around off, Harry punches it towards long on for one.

Outside off, Lorcan Tucker punches it through the covers for a run to get off the mark.

Lorcan Tucker walks in next, at number 5, replacing Carmichael.

OUT! LBW! It was not Carmichael's best day of the series and Ghazanfar relieves him of his misery. Throughout his 27-ball knock, Carmichael was struggling to time the ball and against spin, was not able to read Ghazanfar. This is bowled on a fuller length outside off, Cade Carmichael comes forward and looks to flick it away but misses. He is slightly across when he gets hit on the pads and that makes him a sitting duck. The umpire raises his finger and the 40-run stand has been broken. IRELAND ARE 79/3 AFTER 14.3 OVERS.

Full toss, but not made use of. Around middle, Tector gets down and powers the sweep but cannot find the gap as he picks out deep square leg. Just the single earned. The stand moves to 40 (44).

Full and straight, Harry Tector works it straight to short mid-wicket.

Bashed in on a hard length, around the top of off. Carmichael looks to block but is a bit taken aback by the extra bounce. 11 off the over.

FOUR! Stellar timing. Overpitched delivery around off, Cade Carmichael gets forward and drills the drive through cover-point for another boundary.

We might be in for a bit of a delay here. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has gone down in the field, clutching his back. He might have stretched or tweaked it. Let's hope that it is not as serious as spasms because he is just not able to get up. The physio comes out to the field and looking at the time needed for the assessment, the umpires have called for the DRINKS BREAK. Credit to both teams. Afghanistan have bowled well but Ireland have not played too badly. The openers tried to attack the new ball and perished soon while Carmichael and Tector have steadied things a touch. After a slow start, they have started the boundary count rolling in and slowly, the pitch seems to be getting better to bat on. There was the one blemish with Ikram Alikhil putting down Harry Tector and only time will tell whether it proves costly or not. Tector was on 9 then. It will be interesting to see how do Afghanistan respond without Rashid Khan today. Seems like Gurbaz is okay and we are ready to resume.

Fuller and slanted into the pads, Carmichael leans on and clips it off his legs to the right of mid-wicket. The fielder gets across but fumbles it behind and the batters get a couple of runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the culprit, and he is actually down on his haunches, holding his back. Hopefully, he is fine.

Extra bounce! Saleem bangs it in shorter and outside off, angling it away with some extra lift off the deck. Carmichael goes chasing after it but is well beaten.

FOUR! Beautifully played. Back of a length and just outside off, Carmichael stays on the back foot and glides it off the face of the blade, and well to the right of the deep third fielder for a boundary.

Length ball around off, sliding onto the bat. Tector gets halfway forward and punches it to sweeper cover for a run.

Good start by spin. Ireland's woes against spin are well documented but today, Cade Carmichael is looking a bit off. Not been able to time the balls against spin or pace.

Full and straight, Cade gets across and works it towards short mid-wicket.

Beaten. Pace totally taken off, on a fuller length outside off, Carmichael comes forward, playing for the ball to come back in, but the ball pitches and then spins past the outside edge.

Looped up, but a bit down the leg side. Harry clips to deep square leg for one.

The carrom ball, shorter in length outside off, Tector goes back and works it towards short mid-wicket.

Ooohhh.. outside off, Cade Carmichael looks to drive it through the covers but the ball comes back in, takes the inside edge and rockets past the stumps towards short fine leg. A run taken.

Full, on middle, Harry Tector works it through mid-wicket for a single.

A double bowling change? Yes. First look at spin. Here's AM Ghazanfar.

FOUR! Punished! Dug in short on off, around chest height. Cade Carmichael gets on top of the bounce and smacks it down through mid-wicket for a boundary to end the over. 8 off Saleem's first.

Hammered in on a good length, wider of the off stump line. Carmichael looks to have a poke at it but gets undone by the extra bounce.

Another one off the edge. Length ball in the channel, shaping away. Tector pushes at it and gets it off the outer half of the blade to deep third for one more.

Good length in the channel, Carmichael pats it down through cover and picks up another single.

EDGED AND DROPPED! Full again, wide outside off, Harry Tector reaches out to drive but gets a thick outside edge to the right of the keeper. Ikram Alikhil springs across and sticks out a right glove, but the ball goes quickly and bursts through, rolling down to deep third. Single taken.

Saleem starts with a fuller ball at the stumps, and this is driven off the inner half of the blade to mid on for a quick single.

Surely a bowling change now from this end. Indeed. Mohammad Saleem comes on from the end of Ziaur Rahman.

On a length, outside off, Harry shoulders arms.

FOUR! Nicely played. A short ball, but without venom. It comes around chest height and Tector pulls it all along the ground to the mid-wicket fence.

On a length, around off, Tector clips it through mid-wicket. Short mid-wicket runs after the ball and stops it with a slide. Keeps the batters to a couple.

Quick bouncer. Banged in around off, angling in, Harry Tector goes for the pull but the ball whizzes past the edge. One bouncer for the over signalled.

On a good length, outside off, extra bounce, Carmichael gets across and bunts it towards mid on for a quick single, to bring up the 50 FOR IRELAND.

On a length, outside of, Cade Carmichael just hangs his bat outside off and pushes it towards cover.

Time for Powerplay 2. The field spreads a touch, with 4 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over. No break for Omarzai yet as he gets ready to bowl his 6th over on the trot.

Short and wide outside off, Harry Tector slashes a bit timidly, without moving his feet and misses. Ireland are 49/2 after Powerplay 1.

On a good length, outside off, angling in, HT opens the face of his bat and guides it away, but finds gully.

WIDE. Fired down the leg side, Harry misses his clip.

Not cleanly timed. Banged in short, outside off, Harry Tector looks to slap it over point but gets it off the toe end of the bat. Manages to clear the infield at point and by the time the fielders can get to the ball - they are three - point, cover and deep third - the batters take a couple of runs.

On a good length, around off, extra bounce again, Tector hops a touch and fends it towards short mid-wicket.

On a good length, outside off, steep bounce, Harry Tector rises with the bounce and stabs it towards point.

Full and straight, Cade Carmichael looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. There is an LBW shout but turned down. Going down leg. The ball deflects towards square leg and a leg bye is taken.

Possibly a bowling change from this end? Not yet. Ziaur continues.

Spoils the maiden. A run after 7 straight dot balls. Full, around off, Carmichael comes forward to defend but the ball comes in off the angle and goes off the inside edge through square leg. A single taken.

Make that one more dot. Full and around off, Cade Carmichael gets across and pushes it towards short mid-wicket.

4th dot ball of the over and 6th on the trot overall. Landed outside off, CC pushes it towards the off side.

Full and just around off, Carmichael gets a big stride in and defends it down the pitch.

Fuller, around off, pushed towards cover.

Ooohhh...nearly a third scalp for Omarzai. On a good length, outside off, Cade Carmichael looks to punch it on the up but the ball pitches and rears up sharply, surprising the batter, just going past the outside edge.

Will Omarzai bowl another? He should, after that double-wicket over. And he will.

Similar ball, slightly wider than the previous one, HT shoulders arms again.

On a good length, outside off, extra carry, Harry shoulders arms.

Short outside off, extra bounce, CC cuts hard but the ball flies off the outside edge behind point, towards deep third. A run taken.

A bit too straight, on a length, around middle and leg, Tector goes back and works it through mid-wicket to get off the mark with a run.

WIDE. Second of this over. This time, on the other side. Full and down the leg side, Harry Tector lets it be.

On a good length, outside off, Cade punches it through point for a single.

WIDE. Plenty of movement. On a length, slightly wide outside off, Carmichael lets it go but the ball pitches and moves even further away, way past the wide guideline.

On a good length, around middle and off, Cade Carmichael works it towards mid-wicket.

Harry Tector walks in next, at number 4, replacing his skipper Stirling.

OUT! STUMPS ARE A MESS! Typical commentators' curse as the vintage collection runs out of stock. A bit of a rash shot from the Irish skipper. Omarzai bowls it full and outside off, Paul Stirling looks to drive it through the covers but completely plays down the wrong line. That probably should have been played straight and hence, a big gap opens up between bat and pad. The bat comes through, nowhere near the ball and the latter happily comes in with the angle and shatters the off stump, knocking it off the ground and disturbing the other two as well. Both the openers are back in the hut as 34/0 becomes 39/2 for Ireland.

FOUR! Nicely timed. Looking more and more vintage now. Back of a length, wide outside off, Paul Stirling gets on top of the bounce and punches it uppishly over cover for a boundary.

On middle and off, slightly shorter, Carmichael goes back and nudges it through cover for a single to get off the mark.

Fuller, outside off, Cade Carmichael pushes it towards cover.

The new sensation, Cade Carmichael, walks in next, at number 3, replacing Balbirnie.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! 50TH ODI WICKET FOR OMARZAI! The only format where he has more wickets than matches. And he deserves this wicket. He has been threatening both edges and eventually, gets one of them. On a good length, outside off, Andy Balbirnie stays back to defend but the ball pitches and jags back in a long way. There is a big gap between bat and pad and the ball nearly exploits that, hitting the inside edge on the way and cannoning into the stumps. Balbirnie departs for an unlucky 13 and IRELAND ARE 34/1 AFTER 6.2 OVERS!

Outside off, on a length, clipped straight to short mid-wicket.

Good point by the on-air commentators. One of them remarks that the UK is actually experiencing a heatwave. But while England is suffering from the heat, it is cold, chilly and rainy in Ireland! The commentator wonders aloud how can one continent have different weather zones, that too, between neighbours.

Outside off, punched straight to point.

Dug in short, outside off, Andy Balbirnie slashes it over backward point for a single towards Ghazanfar at deep third.

EDGED, SAFE! Stirling is looking to throw caution to the wind. Jumps out and swings hard, carving it off the top edge towards deep third. AM Ghazanfar is stationed there and gets to his left but the ball drops well short. He fumbles and there is a chance of a second but the batters are content with one.

Good comeback by the bowler. Ziaur bends his back and channels it on a good length, just around off. The skipper looks to defend but the ball pitches and then straightens, to beat the outside edge.

FOUR! Third boundary in the last 4 legal balls! On a length, around middle and off, Paul Stirling jumps down the track and looks to go over the off side. He gets it more of the outside half of the bat but connects well to get it over point for a boundary. The stand moves to 32 (32).

On a length, outside off, Stirling punches it straight to cover.

WIDE. Full and fast, but going down leg. Paul Stirling lets it go.

Just in the background, one can see Mohammad Saleem warming up. Might be on soon. For now, Ziaur continues.

FOUR! That's smashed through the covers, and Ireland are started to roll along nicely. Length ball around off, Balbirnie slaps it away through covers and picks up two boundaries on the trot. Ireland are 27/0 after 5 overs.

FOUR! Quick hands from Balbirnie. A heavy short ball, around off. Balbirnie clubs the pull over the mid-wicket region and picks up his first boundary of the game.

Darted in from wider on the crease, attacking the pads. Balbirnie stays back and tucks it across to square leg.

WIDE! Full ball wide outside the off stump, shaping further away. Andy Balbirnie goes after it and misses, as the ball moves past the tramline.

Fractionally short, just outside off. Balbirnie stands tall and is late on the shot, jamming it down to covers.

Honing in on a good length, around middle. Andy Balbirnie gives the charge but gets beaten on the inside edge and gets hit high on the pads.

Omarzai hits the deck hard, bowling it over middle. Balbirie works it off the hips to backward square leg.

Today, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is fielding without the gloves. Normally, he is Afghanistan's primary glovesman but with Ikram Alikhil in the side, also a keeper, Gurbaz is given a break from his keeping duties. Mind you, he is an excellent outfielder as well.

Edged, but safe! Short of a good length, angles in and then seams away from off stump. Stirling jars at it with hard hands and edges it down to the right of Rahmanullah Gurbaz at second slip. The ball lands short and Gurbaz gets a right hand on it and makes a half stop, saving a certain boundary. Stirling is halfway down the track for the single off the deflection, but gets sent back. 10 runs come from that over.

Much better from Zia! Fuller in length, shaping away from off and middle. Stirling prods ahead and blocks it off.

FOUR! Carved away! Too short and wide, Stirling goes hard at it and slashes it away wide of the deep third fielder and picks up back-to-back boundaries.

FOUR! Sweetly timed, and that's the first boundary of the day. Back of a length, just outside off, Paul Stirling stands tall and just punches it down behind point and the ball races away to the fence.

That's loose from the Irish skipper. Shorter in length, wide outside off, just nibbling away. Stirling's feet get stuck to the crease as he throws his hands at it and fails to connect.

Back of a length, angled into the batter. Stirling nudges it down in front of square leg and gets it through the infield for a couple of runs.

Pitched up around off, Andy Balbirnie gets halfway forward and drives it square towards point. Just 2 off the over again from Omarzai.

The in-between length now, in the corridor of uncertainty. Balbirnie stays on the back foot and plays it off the inner half of the blade to square leg.

A bit fuller around off, Balbirnie clips it away through the gap at mid-wicket and picks up a couple of runs. The outfield is a bit sluggish today.

That's well bowled! Omarzai goes wider on the crease and gets the ball to angle in from outside off. But it straightens down the line, squaring Balbirnie up and goes past the outside edge.

Hard length, pushed in towards the batter. Balbirnie gets on his toes and pats it down the track.

Back of a length, tight around the off stump. Andy Balbirnie rocks back and punches it down to cover.

Beaten again! This is bashed on a shortish length and pushed wider of the off stump. Stirling backs away, looks to smash it over the off side but fails to connect.

Play and a miss! Length ball outside off, shaping away. Stirling drives but ends up playing well inside the line.

WIDE! Rahman pitches it up on the leg stump line, looking for the magical away-swinger but the ball slides through and goes well down leg. Ikram Alikhil dives to his left and deflects it through short fine leg. The batters cross.

Fuller one at the stumps, Stirling backs away and shimmies down the track a bit, slashing it down to deep third for a run. He's off the mark now.

Lovely delivery! Zia goes fuller, angling the ball into the off pole, but then gets it to shape away. Paul Stirling is drawn into the drive but the ball zips past the outside edge.

Good length in the channel, doesn't move much. Balbirnie looks to play on the up but edges it down to deep third for a single.

Ziaur Rahman will bowl with the second new ball. Pitched on a fullish length and wide outside off, Andy Balbirnie reaches out and taps it to cover.

Hard length on off, Paul Stirling stays back and opens the bat face, guiding it towards backward point. Tidy start from Omarzai, just 2 runs off it.

No way through. Length ball in the channel, a tad full, Stirling gets on the front foot and strokes it towards cover.

Doing too much! Omarzai keeps peppering that length, landing this one on off and gets it to nip back in again. Stirling looks to get forward and drive but the ball beats the inside edge and hits him high on the pads. There is a stifled appeal for LBW, but the umpire says no.

That is a peach! Omarzai gets the line and length spot on. This one pitches on a good length, around the fifth stump channel and darts back in. Paul Stirling looks to block but the ball goes between bat and pad, shaving the top of the stumps.

WIDE! The inswinger now, but the line is too straight to begin with, and the ball slides well down leg.

Balbirnie and Ireland are off the mark. Good-length delivery, on off and middle, nibbling away. Balbirnie stays back and pushes it down to the right of cover for a single.

A full ball to begin with, outside the off stump and shaping further away. Andy Balbirnie shoulders arms at it.

Let's play - The anthems are done and the Afghans get into a huddle. They disperse and are followed by the two Irish openers - Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie. The first new ball has been handed to Azmatullah Omarzai. Balbirnie to face. Here we go!

National anthems - The match officials and the players from both sides stand in a line to respect the national anthems of both countries. It will be Afghanistan's first, followed by that of the Irish.

PITCH REPORT - Former Irish cricketer, Ed Joyce, is inspecting the deck. He says that it is a chilly and overcast day, so the first 10-15 overs will be crucial. Mentions that it is the same pitch from the last game, so it is a bit used but should play well. Reckons that it might not be the 650-odd runs scored in the last game, but it should still be good for batting after the first few overs.

There is plenty of optimism - The captain of Ireland, PAUL STIRLING, says that had he won the toss, he would have chosen to bat first, so is happy to go out there and try to change the script for the series. On being asked next as to what exactly do they need to do to achieve the change, Stirling says that he emphasized in the previous game as well that this one is a very important game. Adds that the Irish have lost the series but the players are playing for their country. Further says that there is plenty of optimism and they are building up some momentum. On the team news, Paul informs three changes. First states that Jordan Neill has come directly into the squad as a last minute replacement for Mark Adair who pulled up last night. Goes onto say that Jai Moondra and George Dockrell return to the playing XI.

Want to keep things simple - The skipper of Afghanistan, RAHMAT SHAH, says they will bowl first given the pitch and weather conditions. He then talks about Hashmatullah Shahidi and his 100th ODI, citing that he's been a great servant of Afghanistan cricket. Adds that they want to keep things simple with the ball. Ends by informing that they have three changes with Rashid Khan and a couple of others missing out.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah (C), Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem and Ziaur Rahman. Team changes - IN - Ikram Alikhil, Nangeyalia Kharote and Mohammad Saleem. OUT - Darwish Rasooli, Rashid Khan and Yamin Ahmadzai.

Ireland (Playing XI) - Paul Stirling (C), Andy Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Jordan Neill, Gavin Hoey, Liam McCarthy and Jai Moondra. Team changes - IN - George Dockrell, Jordan Neill and Jai Moondra. OUT - Ben Calitz, Mark Adair and Byron McDonough.

TOSS - All in readiness for the toss. Rahmat Shah has called it correctly and AFGHANISTAN WILL BOWL FIRST.

What went wrong for Ireland? The format, one supposes. They had been playing T20 cricket primarily for the last 2 years or so and hence, their sudden return to this format perhaps caught them unawares. This is more or less the same unit which stunned India, but that was a T20I series. In this ODI series, we have seen shades of Irish brilliance, but not for long. Today is an opportunity for the Team In Green as well, to show that they can do well in other formats too. On that note, hello and a warm welcome to the 5th and final ODI between Ireland and Afghanistan in Belfast.

Ticking the checkboxes - 1. Qualifying directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup - Checked. 2. Winning this bilateral series - Checked. 3. Making an impression and statement with bat and ball - Checked. What's left? This has more or less been a near-perfect series for Afghanistan. They came into this bilateral series with plenty of aims and expectations and have nearly fulfilled all of them. Now, only one substitute expectation remains. In such a good run, you would be tempted for a whitewash but now that rain has denied the same, a cleansweep would be the next best option. The Afghans have never cleanswept their opposition in a bilateral series of 4 or more ODIs. Here is that opportunity then.

... MATCH DAY ...

The final match - The five-match ODI series between Ireland and Afghanistan reaches its finale at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. Afghanistan have dominated the series and enter the fifth ODI with a 3–0 lead, having won the second, third and fourth matches after the opening game was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Their latest victory was particularly convincing: Afghanistan posted 343/9, powered by centuries from Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran, before dismissing Ireland for 301 to win by 42 runs. A redeeming opportunity - For Ireland, the final ODI is an opportunity to end a difficult series on a positive note. Andy Balbirnie's century and Curtis Campher's aggressive 84 in the fourth ODI showed that Ireland's batting has the ability to challenge Afghanistan, but the home side will need a more complete performance with both bat and ball. However, Ireland’s attack leaked 343 in the previous encounter. Pacer Mark Adair and spinner Gavin Hoey will need tighter opening and middle-overs spells to check the Afghan run-rate. Looking for a sweep - Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look to complete a 4–0 series triumph. Their spin attack has been a major factor throughout the series, with Rashid Khan producing a six-wicket haul in the second ODI and another three wickets in the fourth. Having already secured the series, Afghanistan could give bench options like Fazalhaq Farooqi or Nangeyalia Kharote a run in the series finale. The conditions - Stormont typically provides true bounce and aids stroke play once batters get their eye in. Overcast conditions often offer early lateral movement for seamers, making the initial 10 overs crucial. Both teams have preferred chasing when conditions offer moisture early on, though Afghanistan's imposing 343 in the 4th ODI demonstrated the merits of putting runs on the board. Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, recent first) - IRE - LLLLW | AFG - WWWLL. Predictions?Afghanistan enter the final ODI as clear favourites. Their bowling attack has consistently applied pressure, and their batting has shown greater composure in key moments. Ireland will hope that home conditions and a nothing-to-lose approach can inspire a stronger performance, but they will need a complete display to halt Afghanistan’s momentum. Who are you backing for the win?