Published: Jul 17, 2016, 02:15 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 30, 2016, 07:09 PM (IST)
Good Afternoon, ماسپېښين مو نېکمرغه, Tráthnóna maith! Hello and Welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of Afghanistan’s tour of Scotland, Ireland and Netherlands. Here you will get all the live updates of the fourth One-Day International (ODI) between Ireland and Afghanistan. The match is scheduled to be played at Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. The teams are set to play five ODIs in total. The series is currently tied 1-1 and this match will be a crucial one for both the hosts and the visitors. The victory in this match will only help gain the lead, but give them confidence and will create pressure upon the opponents. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Ireland vs Afghanistan, 4th ODI at Belfast
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 150 in 41 overs | Barry McCarthy 10 (15): Afghanistan take the lead against Ireland by 2-1. Ireland lost all the grip after constant fall of wickets. Afghanistan showed all -round performance although they did not have good day with the bat. Their bowlers stood out be it Rahmat Shah or Rashid Shah who took 4-for to bring down the curtains for Ireland.
OUT! Chase c Nabi b Dawlat Zadran 0(7)
OUT! Murtagh c Shenwari b Rashid Khan 1(6)
OUT! Wilson st Mohammad Shahzad b Rashid Khan 6(13)
OUT! Andy McBrine st Mohammad Shahzad b Rashid Khan 1(6)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 136/6 in 35 overs | Gary Wilson 3 (6), Barry McCarthy 1 (5): Yamin Ahmadzai gets crucial wicket of Kevin O’Brien which has turned around the game for Afghanistan indeed. Ireland’s new batsman on crease Gary Wilson will need to support Stirling in every manner. But look, Stirling falls as well and the game begins all over again for Ireland here. Looks like difficult task to build partnership. Afghanistan are looking for early finish here for sure.
OUT! Stirling c Mohammad Shahzad b Rashid Khan 31(52)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 121/4 in 30 overs | Kevin O’Brien 33 (46), Paul Stirling 22 (36): Sterling seems to be a very lucky man. Second time his catch was dropped and it is just boosting Ireland as they are building strong partnership. Afghanistan are looking for another wicket now and this could help Afghanistan for their second win.
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 102/4 in 25 overs | Kevin O’Brien 24 (32), Paul Stirling 15 (20): It is 100 up for Ireland. After being dropped, Stirling is stirring it up for Ireland and joining him along his Kevin O’Brien. Kevin is going for boundary every over which is what is needed now for Ireland and keep the wickets intact. Another 129 runs to win and this could be the moment for hosts to change the scenario of the game. Last ball to go this over, could be maiden but no single from the last ball.
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 74/4 in 20 overs | Kevin O’Brien 11 (14), Paul Stirling 4 (8): Another wicket down and this time Poynter finds his way back to the dug out. Afghanistan are surely looking for another wicket to get the game to their side for the second time on trot. New batsman who has entered is Paul Stirling. Rahmat Shah got his second wicket this time and will be interesting to watch out if he shines in today’s game.
OUT! Stuart Poynter c Ali Zadran b Rahmat 15(22)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 47/3 in 14 overs | Kevin O’Brien 1 (1), Stuart Poynter 2 (7): So another wicket down for Ireland. Afghanistan looking for early wash out here. Rahmat Shah gets a wicket for himself. Afghanistan know they have not set up a high target but the way Ireland batting is collapsing, Definitely, Ireland are looking for means to build strong partnership here.
OUT! William Porterfield run out 16 (27)
OUT! Sean Terry lbw b Rahmat 9(28)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 34/1 in 9 overs | William Porterfield 12(15), Sean Terry 0(0): Great job done by the bowlers so far. The bowlers know that they must restrict the Irish top-order from scoring runs and that is exactly what they are doing. Mohammad Nabi’s over gave just one run while Ahmadzai, who had been hit for two boundaries in the previous one, bowled a maiden. They are building pressure upon the batsmen.
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 27/1 in 6 overs | William Porterfield 12(15), Sean Terry 0(0): Success for Afghanistan. Ed Joyce is one of the danger man and he has been dismissed, which will be a plus for the visitors. Porterfield must build a partnership here now. The two batsmen at teh crease must make sure they stay there for long and take the score past at least 70 for the middle-order to do the rest.
OUT! Ed Joyce run out 12 (21)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Ireland 15/0 in 3 overs | William Porterfield 5(8), Ed Joyce 9(10): Dawlat Zadran to open bowling and skipper Porterfield to face the first delivery. And a four! A similar start like Aghanistan as Shahzad had also hit the second delivery for four. The total is not huge and the bowlers will have to be really economical to defend it. Dawlat makes it up with giving no run. Asghar Stanikzai hands the ball to Yamin Ahmadzai. First appearance for him in the series. Decent start from him, no runs off the first three deliveries. Bowling on leg, a bit slower. Four! Joyce gives the square leg fielder no chance. Four! Lucky there, as the ball gets an inside edge. A dot to finish. Dawlat makes a return with the ball. Stanikzai would look to utilise him all through the start of the inings for some early scalps. Dropped! Samiullah Shenwari it is, and Joyce gets a new life. Just three runs, all from singles. No boundaries. Good comeback by Afghanistan.
*Ireland’s innings starts*
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 229/7 in 50 overs | Rashid Khan 44(40), Mirwais Ashraf 30(29): What an end to Afghanistan’s innings! FOUR, SIX, SIX! McCarthy with the final over, Rashid scoops 4th ball over short fine, drives then over extra-cover bringing up a superb FIFTY and brings curtains down with a lovely SIX straight down the ground. 18 runs off the last over.
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 185/7 in 47 overs | Rashid Khan 30(32), Mirwais Ashraf 5(19): It has been Ireland’s day so far. Tim Murtagh has finished his quota of 10 overs. One wicket and economy of 4.10, once again excellent stuff from him. OUT! Rahmat Shah c Staurt Poynter b Peter Chase 48(70), OUT! Mohammad Nabi c Peter Chase b Tim Murtagh 50(67).
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 106/5 in 30 overs | Rahmat Shah 47 (66), Najibullah 9 (20): Another wicket down for Afghanistan. This is not looking good with constant fall of wickets. Afghanistan need a strong partnership to keep the game going. Ireland are on a roll and this could be the moment to level the series. Yet the batting always does the talking. Mohammad Nabi is the new batsman who has entered the crease. OUT! Najibullah Zadran c Sean Terry b Andy McBrine 3(18)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 90/4 in 24 overs | Rahmat Shah 40(51), Najibullah 3(17): OUT! Two more wickets fall quickly. Afghanistan skipper Stanikzai continues his poor form. A second consecutive duck for him. McCarthy and McBrine have a wicket each in this match so far. Shenwari was dismissed in the 20th over. He missed it badly before it hit this pads. The ball was clearly going on middle and leg stump. Meanwhile, the skipper while going for the big hit over mid-wicket was shook by Joyce. The fielder suddenly came into the picture, jumped as high as he could and finished the catch. Two wickets in 2 overs for Ireland. OUT! Samiullah Shenwari 11(25), Asghar Stanikzai 0(4)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 59/2 in 14 overs | Rahmat Shah 20(26), Samiullah Shenwari 3(11): OUT! Big blow for Afghanistan as they lose their key batsman. Irish veteran Stirling strikes this time. Short ball does the trick here, Shahzad goes down the pitch, doesn’t hit from the middle of the bat and the deep mid-wicket fielder runs to his right, dives forward to finish an excellent catch! Shenwari is the new man in. Just 1 run and a wicket off the 12th over. Five more runs added by the Afghans in the next 2 overs. OUT! Mohammad Shahzad c Sean Terry b Paul Stirling 22(35)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 32/1 in 7 overs | Mohammad Shahzad 18(27), Rahmat Shah 1(3): OUT! Peter Chase draws first blood. While Ali Zadran goes for a drive, gets an outside edge and Poynter makes no mistake behinds the wickets. Three runs and a wicket in the 6th over, good one for the hosts! Murtagh continues, 4 runs off his over. OUT! Noor Ali Zadran c Stuart Poynter b Peter Chase 10(12)
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 25/0 in 5 overs | Mohammad Shahzad 12(19), Noor Ali Zadran 10(11): Murtagh, who is playing his 50th ODI today has been consistent for Ireland in the past few matches. Comes in for his 3nd over, gives just 2 runs. Five runs off the 4th over. Ali Zadran welcomes Murtagh in the 5th over with a lovely pull, crosses fence of behind square area. Two more runs to end the 5th over. A slow but decent start from Afghanistan.
LIVE CRICKET SCORES & UPDATES Afghanistan 12/0 in 2 overs | Mohammad Shahzad 7(9), Noor Ali Zadran 4(3): Murtagh with the ball first. Shahzad defends the first ball. DOT. FOUR! Shahzad goes forward smashes it over the bowler’s head, a couple of bounces before crossing the ropes. All dots after that shot. Barry McCarthy with the ball next. Singles and doubles in the first five balls before Zadran drives it towards the cover for FOUR!
Playing XI:
Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad(wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Asghar Stanikzai(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Mirwais Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Yamin Ahmadzai
Ireland: William Porterfield(c), Ed Joyce, Sean Terry, Stuart Poynter(wk), Kevin O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, Peter Chase
TOSS UPDATE: Afghanistan win toss, opt to bat.
Both the teams have strong bowling line-ups, which has so far restricted them from scoring big totals. This makes the matches even more competing as both are equally powered. So far, Tim Murtagh, Barry McCarthy and Kevin O’Brien have done brilliantly with the ball for Ireland. For Afghanistan, it is Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mirwais Ashraf and Dawlat Zadran who have been effective with the ball.
However, both the teams are struggling to bring back balance in their batting. Both have strong and consistent top-order and have won matches more based on individual performances. Mohammad Shahzad and Najibullah Zadran for Afghanistan and William Porterfield, Kevin O’Brien and Ed Joyce for Ireland have provided standout performances.
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.
