Afghanistan secured a commanding 92-run victory against Ireland in the second ODI at Bready Cricket Club on Friday, August 8. Following the abandonment of the series opener due to rain, this contest also faced weather-related delays, resulting in a reduction to 47 overs per side. Led by a solid 84 from Ibrahim Zadran, the visitors posted a total of 299 for 8 before Rashid Khan dismantled the Irish batting lineup with a stunning six-wicket haul, bowling them out for 207 in 33.4 overs.
Ireland elected to bowl under overcast conditions, and while Mark Adair started with a maiden, his new-ball partner Jay Moondra struggled against Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Despite conceding boundaries and overstepping, Moondra eventually claimed Gurbaz’s wicket. Sediqullah Atal joined Ibrahim to stabilize the innings, building a 116-run partnership that anchored the Afghanistan total. Ibrahim shifted gears after the powerplay to reach his fifty in 52 balls, while Atal contributed 45 before falling to Harry Tector in the 25th over.
The middle order maintained the momentum through a 43-run stand between Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim. Although both were dismissed in quick succession—Ibrahim by Curtis Campher and Rahmat by Gavin Hoey—a brisk 43-run partnership between Azmatullah Omarzai and Darwish Rasooli kept the scoreboard moving. Despite a late-innings collapse where three wickets fell for 21 runs, Hashmatullah Shahidi provided a vital finish with a 21-ball 36, featuring four boundaries in the final two overs.
Ireland’s chase began positively, matching Afghanistan’s powerplay score of 65 for 1. Andy Balbirnie played with fluency, and Cade Carmichael, in only his fourth ODI, attacked the bowling, notably taking 21 runs off a single Saleem Safi over. However, Rashid Khan shifted the momentum by removing both Balbirnie and Tector. A 38-run recovery attempt by Lorcan Tucker and Carmichael ended in misfortune when Tucker was run out during an LBW appeal, followed shortly by the dismissal of Carmichael, leaving Ireland struggling at 152 for 5.
A brief counter-attack by Ben Calitz and Curtis Campher yielded 41 runs in three overs, but Rashid returned to bowl Calitz, triggering a final collapse. Ireland lost their last four wickets for just nine runs, with Rashid claiming three of them to finish with career-best figures of 6-34. This victory gives Afghanistan a lead in the five-match series, with the third ODI scheduled for Monday, August 10, at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 299/8 in 47 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 84, Sediqullah Atal 45; Mark Adair 2-40, Jay Moondra 2-78) beat Ireland 207 all-out in 33.4 overs (Cade Carmichael 62, Andy Balbirnie 36; Rashid Khan 6-34) by 92 runs.
After the first ODI was abandoned without a toss because of rain, the start of this fixture was delayed too due to inclement weather and was reduced to 47 overs-a-side.
Afghanistan reached 65 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay and while the scoring rate dipped thereafter, a 116-run stand between Ibrahim and Atal put them in command.
Ibrahim, who had started slowly, assumed the aggressor’s role following the powerplay and brought up a 52-ball fifty in the 19th over.
Sediqullah Atal sustained the momentum with Moondra continuing to prove expensive in his opening spell.
It was only towards the death that Ireland managed to regain some control with a flurry of wickets as Afghanistan lost three wickets for 21 runs.
Still, an aggressive yet measured 21-ball 36 from Hashmatullah Shahidi, including four boundaries in the last two overs, ensured that the visitors finished strong.
In reply, Ireland started well despite losing Paul Stirling and matched Afghanistan’s Powerplay score of 65 for 1.
Andy Balbirnie looked fluent at the crease and was quick to pounce on any width that was on offer.
Lorcan Tucker and Carmichael attempted a rebuild while the latter brought up his maiden ODI fifty off 44 balls.
Ben Calitz and Curtis Campher then mounted a surprise assault, smashing 41 runs off the next three overs, including five fours and two sixes, but it was put to an end by Rashid who bowled Calitz.
