Afghanistan sealed qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup, their fourth in a row, by beating Ireland in the 45th over of a tense chase. The win put them 2-1 up in the five-match series.
Rashid Khan was central, taking 3 for 44 to hold Ireland to 206 and then steadying the reply from 154 for 6 with a composed 37. He held back until Afghanistan needed 15 more, hit a boundary, and finished the job with a brace off Harry Tector. Yamin Ahmadzai, back in ODIs for the first time since 2022, stayed not out on four from 26 balls. AM Ghazanfar also took three wickets, and the spin pair shared six.
Ireland’s record ninth-wicket stand
Ireland were 128 for 8 before Jai Moondra and Gavin Hoey added a record 76 for the ninth wicket. Hoey top-scored with 36 and Moondra made 31 in only his second ODI innings, including five fours, before Ahmadzai removed him. The innings ended in the 47th over when Hoey attempted a big hit against Azmatullah Omarzai.
The chase wobbles
Rahmanullah Gurbaz began aggressively and reached his eighth ODI fifty with a big hit over deep midwicket. Hoey then took 4 for 34. Sediqullah Atal fell for 27, Mark Adair bowled captain Rahmat Shah, and Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli and Omarzai also went.
Ireland looked back in contention, but Hoey had finished his spell by the 33rd over, leaving them short of options. Rashid took advantage and saw Afghanistan home.
