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Afghanistan vs Ireland, ICC Inter-continental Cup 2017 at greater NOIDA: Afghanistan seek glory in 4-day contest

Afghanistan certainly will be confident after a 3-0 win in the Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and a 3-2 in the ODIs, but Ireland do not seem an easy opponent looking at the team’s strength.

© PTI
© PTI

After success in the limited-overs series, hosts Afghanistan will seek victory in the only Four-Day match against Ireland. Starting Tuesday at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, the match is a part of the ICC Inter-continental Cup and will be crucial for both the sides to gain points in the longer format. Afghanistan certainly will be confident after a 3-0 win in the Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and a 3-2 in the ODIs, but Ireland do not seem an easy opponent looking at the team’s strength. A close contest is on the cards, considering both the teams have got some impact players.

Afghanistan have improved remarkably over a small span but majority of it came in the shortest format. However, they had won both their Intercontinental Cup matches in 2016, against Namibia and Netherlands. Playing in India, Mohammad Nabi will surely be a key player for Afghanistan. Nabi had picked up 7 wickets against Namibia and this time, he will be expected to repeat such a spell. Bowling once the pitch starts offering turn, expectedly post Day Two, Nabi will be highly effective. Another spinner who will hold the ace is Rashid Khan. He was the highest wicket-taker in both T20Is (9) as well as ODIs (16). Rashid Khan: The knight in shining armour in Afghanistan’s rising fortunes

With a combination of these two, Afghanistan’s bowling attack will have the edge against Ireland, who are known not to be the best players of spin. Afghanistan also have the services of Amir Hamza.

The team’s pace attack, too, looks quite good. Dawlat Zadran has been consistent across different venues and playing conditions and is one who can be relied upon. He has a very clear action and gradually increases his pace after finding his spot, which prevents wayward bowling. He picked up 11 wickets in the ODI series. Gulbadin Naib will be the third option in the pace department.

Ireland will not be an easy team to beat though. They also won their two Four-Dayers in 2016, against Papua and New Guinea (PNG) and Hong Kong comfortably. Coming to Ireland’s bowling, it must be said that they have been unlucky with wickets. Their main strength is their pace-attack and that is led by Tim Murtagh, who has been among wickets and has displayed commendable bowling. He has produced movement in difficult conditions and keeps on producing chances with his intelligent bowling which keeps the batsmen under pressure. Stuart Thompson, his fellow paceman, has been rather disappointing as he has failed to pick up wickets consistently.

However, Ireland’s major concern will be the availability of their star all-rounder Kevin O’Brien. The player picked up a hamstring injury post the third ODI but made a comeback into the side for the fourth, emerging as the hero with 4 wickets and 72 runs. Talking about Ireland’s spin bowling, Jacob Mulder has been the best performer. Mulder has produced many chances and will find much support from the pitch. However, he will have to bowl intelligently as Afghanistan batsmen are capable of playing spin well. Niall O’Brien: I have sledged myself

What the Afghanistan batsmen, especially the top-order, needs is to play with patience. Opener Mohammad Shahzad is a natural hard-hitter but will have to refrain himself from taking too many risks and aim for a longer innings. A good partnership up the order will lay foundation for a big total which the long-trailing Afghanistan batting line-up is capable of. Samiullah Shenwari, Asghar Stanikzai and Nabi will be the pillars in the middle order while Rahmat Shah, who has impressed one and all with his technically sound batting of late, will be one batsman to watch out for.

Paul Stirling has been an epitome of consistent run-getting in the ODI series. The batsman hit four half-centuries in the five ODIs which not only provided Ireland with runs but also helped the team get a stable start. The team will also depend a lot upon one of the most accomplished batsmen ever produced by the side, skipper William Porterfield. Their concern, however, will be the poor show of the middle order.

Squads:

Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Stanikzai (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Dawlat Zadran, Rashid Khan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Nasir Jamal, Gulbadin Naib, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Fareed Ahmad, Amir Hamza

Ireland: William Porterfield (c), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O’Brien, Gary Wilson (wk), Andrew Balbirnie, Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell, Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin, Andy McBrine, Jacob Mulder, Barry McCarthy, Stuart Thompson, Craig Young

Time: 10:00 am IST

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