Rashid Khan led Afghanistan to 79-runs victory

Tags: Afghanistan tour of Ireland 2016, Afghanistan, Ireland, Ireland Vs Afghanistan 4th ODI at Belfast, Jul 17, 2016

Published on: Jul 18, 2016

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Afghanistan thrashed Ireland by 79 runs in the fourth One Day International at Belfast, Ireland. Rashid Khan produced his carrer best

Afghanistan 229 for 7 (Rashid 60, Nabi 50, McBrine 2-29) beat Ireland 150 (Kevin O'Brien 34, Rashid 4-21) by 79 runs
Afghanistan thrashed Ireland by 79 runs in the fourth One Day International at Belfast, Ireland. Rashid Khan produced his carrer best with bat as well as with ball. He first steered visitor’s ship from 109 for 6 to a respectable total of 229 with his 44-balls 60-runs knock and then returned with 4 for 21 in his eight over to bowl out Ireland for 150.
The fourth ODI witnessed a controversial run out decision of Ireland’s opener ED Joyce. After driving the ball over extra cover in the sixth over, Joyce stopped running mid-pitch, assuming the ball had reached the boundary. Mohammad Nabi chased the ball and flicked back to Rashid who threw the ball to non-striker end where Yamin Ahmedzai, the bowler took the bail off. That time ED Joyce was standing on the mid pitch assuming that the ball was dead. On field umpires asked Afghanistan’s captain to withdraw their appeal but he refused to do so. With the lack of TV umpire in the game, umpires trusted the fielder that he hadn’t cross the rope and given decision in their favour.
Joyce scored 12 off 21 balls. And four over later, Porterfield was run out as well for 16 off 27 balls. Then Rehmat Ali got rid off Terry and Poynter to reduce hosts to 67 for 4. The fifth wicket partnership of O’Brien and Stirling added 63 runs together which gave hosts some hope to take lead the series but Yamin Ahmedzai struck O’Brien to give visitors a crucial breakthrough which they desperately needed. This saw wickets trembling in quick succession for Ireland and they could only manage 150 runs in the end.
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Afghanistan didn’t get off to a good start and their top order fall cheaply. At one point of time, they were reduced to 109 for 6 in the 32nd over. Nabi and Rashid then came together to add 54 for the seventh wicket and revive their side. That was followed by an unbroken partnership of 66 between Rashid and Mirwais Ashraf at over eight to the over, lifting Afghanistan to 229 for 7 on a pitch that Porterfield later admitted was difficult to score on.

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