AFG v IRE, 5th ODI Review: Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan win the decider for Afghanistan

It was an exceptional batting display by Afghanistan which helped them steamroll Ireland by 7 wickets in the 5th and the final encounter in Noida to take the series 3-2. After losing the 3rd and the 4th ODI, the Asian minnows came back to winning ways by winning the deciding encounter comprehensively. Batting first Ireland posted a modest 229 on the board in their 50 overs.

Despite losing 2 early wickets, Afghanistan reached their eventual victory target riding on a wonderful century by Rahmat Shah and a well-deserved half-century by Samiullah Shenwari. Teenager Rashid Khan who bought for a whopping amount in the recent IPL auctions was the other star for the Afghans as he finished with exceptional figures of 4/29 in 10 overs.

Winning the toss, Ireland captain William Porterfield chose to bat first. Openers Ed Joyce and Paul Stirling got off to a fluent start as the Irish didn’t lose a wicket in the mandatory powerplay. After 2 quiet overs, Ed Joyce smashed Fareed Ahmad for a couple of boundaries in the 3rd over which got things going for the Irishmen.

The duo kept on rotating the strike and struck the occasional boundaries which didn’t allow the run rate to fall down considerably. At the end of the 10th over, Ireland was comfortably placed on 48/0 with both Joyce and Stirling going great guns. In the 12th over, Joyce stepped down the track to Mohammad Nabi and smashed him over the mid-wicket boundary for a huge six.

Leggie Rashid Khan provided the Afghans with the much-needed breakthrough by removing Joyce with a terrific delivery in the 15th over. Despite losing his partner, Stirling was in no mood to rest home the advantage and smashed a six and a four in the following over. After reaching a well-deserved half-century Stirling gave away his wicket as Ireland were reduced to 116/2 in the 23rd over.

William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien played sensibly in the middle overs but just when they were getting ready to press on the accelerator, Porterfield was dismissed by Fareed Ahmad in the 32nd over. A string of wickets fell in the final 15 overs as Ireland lost the plot and were bundled out for 229 in the penultimate over. Rashid Khan was exceptional and finished with figures of 4/29 in 10 overs.

Chasing the modest target, Afghanistan lost two early wickets within the first 10 overs. After smashing a huge six of Stuart Thomson Mohammad Shehzad was dismissed by the same bowler on the penultimate delivery of the over. Najeeb Tarakai too fell in quick succession as the hosts were reduced to 25/2 in the 8th over.

Captain Asghar Stanikzai and Rahmat Shah started the rebuilding work and looked in good touch. They kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles. Stanikzai was eventually dismissed in the 25th over by left-arm spinner Goerge Dockrell after the captain smashed him for a huge six in the previous delivery. Samiullah Shenwari joined Rahmat Shah in the middle.

The duo started from scratch and rotated the strike along to keep the scoreboard moving. The duo smashed a couple of boundaries here and there to make sure the required run rate didn’t creep up. The home team reached 175/3 in the 40th over with both the set batsmen out there in the middle. With 55 required of the final 10, it was a cake walk for the Afghans.

Rahmat Shah completed a sensational century and remained unbeaten on 108 of 128 deliveries, an innings constructed with 10 hits to the fence and a solitary six. Shenwari too was going great gun and remained unbeaten on 62 of 77 deliveries. His innings was studded with 5 fours and a solitary six.

While Rahmat Shah bagged the Man of the Match Awar, teenager Rashid Khan who has been brilliant with the ball in the series took away the Man of the series Award. Paul Stirling bagged the best batsman of the series as a consolation prize for Ireland.

Brief Scores

Ireland 229 all-out in 48.1 overs (Paul Stirling 51, Rashid Khan 4/29)

Afghanistan 231/3 in 48.4 overs (Rahmat Shah 108*, Samiuallah Shenwari 62*, Tim Murtagh 1/26)

Afghanistan won by 7 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)