Ireland vs Afghanistan 2016, 5th ODI at Belfast, Predictions and Preview: Visitors look to win series

Afghanistan are all set to face hosts Ireland in the fifth and the final One-Day International at Stormont, Belfast.

Afghanistan are all set to face hosts Ireland for the last time on the ongoing tour at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. It is the fifth and the final One-Day International (ODI) between the two teams and the result will decide the winner of the series. Afghanistan currently have the lead winning 2 matches while Ireland have won just one match. Ireland will look to end the series in a draw while Afghanistan will not be easily tamed and try to win the series to add one more milestone to their glorious journey so far. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Ireland vs Afghanistan, 5th ODI at Belfast

The way Afghanistan pulled off a miraculous win in the previous match shows the intent of the visitors prominently. One big positive throughout the series for Afghanistan has been the team’s bowling. The fielding has improved as well, as the first two dismissals were run outs. The Afghan bowlers later on did not let the Irish batsmen build up the partnership they needed to win the crucial fixture.

Over the last couple of years, after trying multiple options, Afghanistan have finally found their winning combination and two complete match-winners in the squad are Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. Rashid, after playing a much-needed knock of an unbeaten 60 runs, came back to run through the Ireland batting line-up, taking 4 wickets with an economy of 2.62. The all-round performance helped Afghanistan in more than one ways to win the match.

The other name which needs a mention has to be that of Mohammad Nabi’s. One of the most consistent performers of the team, Nabi has so far scalped wickets regularly and been the leading spinner. Nabi played a different role in the fourth ODI, scoring a 67-ball 50 that changed the momentum in favour of Afghanistan. problems persisted with Afghanistan’s middle-order as they failed to perform, including skipper Asghar Stanikzai, who has been out of form form a long time now. Rahmat Shah, batting at No. 3, was a treat to the eyes as the scored 48 with some handsome-looking shots.

The best thing to look into the match and Afghanistan’s win was the role of each and every individual. When one of the departments failed to do anythings, others took on the responsibility to rescue the side from defeat and this intent is something that will help them get closer to victory in the next game as well. The Afghanistan bowling is now tried and tested in European conditions and will be something to give nightmares to the Irish batsmen.

Bowlers like Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan will surely be the names to watch out for. Rahmat Shah and of course, Mohammad Shahzad at the top-order will be the pillars of the batting. Najibullah Zadran has also done very well throughout the tour which makes him one of the most dependable middle-order batsmen. As for Stanikzai, this will be his last chance in Ireland to get his form back and pull off some heroics to hand his team the victory they want.

Ireland on the other hand mostly failed to keep their nerves and gradually give the match away to the touring party. The hosts had started exceptionally well, with early scalps that pushed Afghanistan into a struggling situation of 109 for 6 wickets. The target, which did not look to go anywhere closer to 200, ended with 230 runs to achieve. Still, the target was quite achievable as the score was below the par mark of 250.

Ireland repeated the similar mistakes as Afghanistan but failed to get themselves back on track like their opponents. One thing that the Ireland innings will surely demand in the fifth ODI is the consistency of both their bowlers and batsmen. Ireland have failed to produce any even batting performance so far in the series and their only win came from two big individual performances. The top and middle-order of Irish batting has to be consistent and keep their nerves cool in the first place to end the series in a draw.

Ireland have a very good bowling line-up including names like Tim Murtagh, Barry McCarthy, Andy McBrine and Kevin O’Brien who can turn things around for the team. One department that the team definitely need improvement is the batting. Names like William Porterfield, Ed Joyce, Kevin O’Brien are members of the squad which adds a lot of talent to the side. The players need to keep their calm and play on their on strengths to put up a tough competition to the Afghanistan team.

Squads:

Ireland: Max Sorensen, John Anderson, William Porterfield(c), George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Stuart Poynter, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson (wk)

Afghanistan: 
Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Javed Ahmadi, Asghar Stanikzai (c), Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Amir Hamza Hotak, Yamin Ahmadzai.

Time: 3:15 PM IST | 09:45 AM GMT

(Paulami Chakraborty, a singer, dancer, artist, and photographer, loves the madness of cricket and writes about the game. She can be followed on Twitter at @Polotwitts)

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