Afghanistan vs Ireland, 3rd ODI Match Summary

Right! That's all from this ODI series. Afghanistan take the series and also bag vital points for World Super League. The Afghanistan players pose with the trophy and celebrate. We thank you for your company for this brilliant series. For now, it is goodbye from our end. Take care and cheers!

The winning skipper, Asghar Afghan, starts by saying that he is pleased with the performance in the series. Tells that the winning combination is important and he is happy with the series win. Wants to continue the good performance in the coming games as well.

Ireland skipper, Andy Balbirnie, starts by praising the performance of Stirling and tells they don't have words to describe how well he has played. Tells no one could give him support. Says that there is a lot of cricket coming up for them and they need to be better than this.

Paul Stirling is named Player of the series for his fantastic performance in the series. He is disappointed that his team could not collect points from the series. He adds that they were in good positions in the match, but couldn't capitalize and finish the game off. Also remembers Roy Torrens, who passed away recently and adds that a lot of people are already missing him so much.

Rashid Khan is named the Player of the Match for his contribution with both bat and ball. He says that he is happy to win the award almost after 15 games. Tells that he tried to put pressure by bowling dot balls. Says in the last two games, he bowled a bit wide and it was easier for them to score. Wanted to bowl wicket-to-wicket in this game. Adds that he has been working hard on his batting. Tells that he backs himself to score the runs. Is pleased with the result. Hopes to get a chance higher up the order with the bat. Dedicates the award to his late mom and dad.

Stay tuned for the presentation!

Earlier in the game, after struggling early on, decent hands from Afghan, Naib and Rashid took the team above the score of 250. Mujeeb and Naveen, the number 10 and 11 of the team, hit a few lusty blows to take the team's score to 266. Ireland were impressive with the ball. They were hit in the first 2 overs but they pulled back things nicely with Young taking 3 in the Powerplay. The spinners then came into the attack and kept things really tight. Simi took a 3-fer. However, they gave away a little too many in the final 10 with the last 3 Afghan batters making handy contributions. Eventually, those runs from the last few overs became the difference.

The Afghan bowlers were superb throughout the game! Despite the onslaught from Stirling from one end, they kept their cool and kept things nice and tight. Rashid, who wasn't at his best in the first two games with the ball, shone like a diamond in this game. He picked up 4 wickets while Mujeeb and Naib got 2 and 1 respectively. Pacer Naveen got the last wicket and closed things for his side.

Chasing the total of 267, Ireland started nicely with Stirling going bang, bang from the start. McCollum and Balbirnie failed to get going and departed at the other end but Stirling continued. He made useful stands with the likes of Tector, Campher and Tucker. He got to his 12th ODI ton in the process and smashed 6 sixes and 9 boundaries. However, once he was dismissed, they lost the plot. With the asking rate going upwards, the Ireland batters failed to get going and kept losing their wickets. And eventually, they fell short by quite a few runs.

Handshakes all around and smiles in the Afghanistan camp. A fine, fine performance from Afghanistan as they whitewash Ireland in the 3-game series. Stirling's ton kept them in the game but once he was removed, things went down the barrel for them and eventually, the Afghan spinners stiffled them in the run chase to register a comfortable victory.

OUT! LBW! Three reds on the Ball Tracker! That's that. A length ball on middle, McBrine looks to work it on the leg side but misses and gets hit on the pads. Afghanistan players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Andy takes the review as the last hope. Replays show that there was no bat involved. Ball Tracker shows Three reds and the original decision stands. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 36 RUNS.

McBrine has been given out LBW! He has gone for the review. Looked gonner to the naked eyes. Replays roll in. Ultra Edge detects nothing. Ball Tracker shows three reds.

Josh Little is the last man in for Ireland.

OUT! TIMBER! Rashid gets another! Number 9 goes down now. Rashid loops this one around off, Young, the number 10, looks to defend but the ball spins in. Goes through the defense and the stumps are rocked behind. Wicket number 4 for Rashid. Afghanistan just need one wicket to seal the game and the series.

Craig Young is the new man in.

OUT! RUN OUT! Comedy of errors, and in the end , Afghanistan manage to get the wicket. A tossed up ball around off, Simi goes for the slog but ends up hitting it off the toe end. The ball goes high in the air towards mid off. Shahidi goes behind and tries to catch but makes a mess of it. However, Nabi, coming from long off is alert as he sends a bullet throw to the keeper as the batters try to take the second. Gurbaz takes the bails off. Third umpire has been called for. Replays roll in and it shows Simi is short.

Is that a run out? Oh yes! It is.

McBrine makes room. Rashid smartly bowls it full and wide. Andy manages to poke it towards mid off for one.

Tossed up and outside off, lofted over cover for one.

Shortish and around middle, clipped down to deep mid-wicket for one.

Fired on the pads, McBrine looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pad.

Rashid Khan back on. 8-0-25-3 from him so far. Can he finish with a 5-fer?

McBrine brings out the reverse sweep now. Finds short third man but they take one. 41 needed in final 4.

Shortish and just around off, tucked down to deep mid-wicket for two.

Now, Simi gets lucky. He wants to go big on the leg side but ends up getting an inside edge on the pad. The ball goes to short fine leg for one.

Flat and around middle, tucked through mid-wicket for one.

In the air... lands safely! Tossed up and outside off, McBrine makes room and looks to go big over the off side. He ends up hitting it off the toe end. The long off comes ahead and tries to catch but fails to get under it.

Floated on middle and leg, McBrine looks to work it on the leg side but misses to get hit on the pad.

Chance, big chance! But Afghanistan miss! Floated around off and middle, spins in. Singh looks to work it on the leg side but misses. The ball lobs towards the left of the keeper. Andy wants a run but Simi sends him back. The keeper fires the throw at the bowler's end but misses. Direct hit would've been end of McBrine.

Quick run! Floated outside off, poked towards short third man for a run.