Key Takeaways
Afghanistan beat Ireland by three wickets in the third ODI.
Afghanistan chased down 207 runs in 44.5 overs.
Rashid Khan scored 37* and took 3/44.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 71 runs.
Gavin Hoey took 4/34 for Ireland.
Afghanistan now lead the five-match series 2-0.
Afghanistan have secured direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Rashid Khan was named Player of the Match.
Rashid Khan once again showed why he is one of Afghanistan’s biggest match-winners. He took three wickets and then scored an unbeaten 37 to help Afghanistan beat Ireland by three wickets in the third ODI in Belfast.
The win gave Afghanistan a 2-0 lead in the five-match series and confirmed their direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. Rashid played a key role with both bat and ball as Afghanistan completed a tense chase of 207 with 31 balls to spare.
Rashid Khan Takes Three Wickets
Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bowl first at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
Ireland found it difficult to score freely against Afghanistan's bowlers. Young spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar was one of the best bowlers for Afghanistan, taking 3/29 in his 10 overs.
Rashid Khan also made a big impact in the middle overs.
The Afghanistan captain used different speeds and got good turn from the pitch. He picked up three important wickets and finished with figures of 3/44 from 10 overs.
Ireland were reduced to 128/8 and looked set to be bowled out for a low total.
However, Gavin Hoey and Jai Moondra put together a useful ninth-wicket partnership. Their stand helped Ireland reach 206 all out in 46.3 overs.
Ireland Scorecard
Ireland: 206 all out
Gavin Hoey: 36
Jai Moondra: 31
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar: 3/29
Rashid Khan: 3/44
Afghanistan needed 207 runs to win the match.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz Leads Afghanistan’s Chase
Afghanistan got off to a good start in the chase, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz playing aggressively. The opener scored 71 runs from 77 balls, hitting two fours and five sixes. Afghanistan moved to 97/2 and then 149/4. At that stage, they looked on course for a comfortable win. But Ireland fought back strongly.
Ireland Put Afghanistan Under Pressure
Leg-spinner Gavin Hoey changed the game with a quick burst of wickets. He removed Gurbaz and Darwish Rasooli, putting pressure on the Afghanistan middle order. Mark Adair then dismissed Azmatullah Omarzai for 13. Afghanistan suddenly found themselves in serious trouble. They fell from 149/4 to 176/7.
The visitors still needed 31 runs to win, but only three wickets were left. Ireland could sense a possible upset.
Rashid Khan Keeps His Nerve
With Afghanistan's lower order at the crease, Rashid Khan took control of the chase. Instead of playing too many risky shots, Rashid focused on rotating the strike and waiting for bad deliveries. He also found the boundary when Ireland's bowlers gave him an opportunity. One of his best shots was a reverse sweep against Harry Tector that went past short third man.
Rashid was joined by Yamin Ahmadzai, who played an important supporting role. Ahmadzai scored only four runs, but he faced 26 balls and stayed at the crease while Rashid handled most of the scoring. The pair added an unbeaten partnership that took Afghanistan close to victory. With only two runs needed, Rashid hit the winning runs towards deep square leg. Afghanistan reached 207/7 in 44.5 overs and won the match by three wickets. Rashid finished unbeaten on 37 from 43 balls and was named Player of the Match.
Afghanistan Scorecard
Afghanistan: 207/7
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 71
Rashid Khan: 37*
Gavin Hoey: 4/34
Mark Adair: 2/41
Afghanistan Qualify for the 2027 ODI World Cup
The victory was important for Afghanistan for more than just the ODI series. By winning the match, Afghanistan secured direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup. The 2027 World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and will feature 14 teams. Afghanistan's qualification means they will not have to go through the difficult qualifying tournament.
It is another major achievement for a team that has made huge progress in international cricket over the past decade.
Rashid Khan Delivers Again
Rashid Khan has been Afghanistan's biggest match-winner for several years, and his performances in this series have once again shown his importance to the team. In the second ODI, Rashid produced an outstanding 6/34 with the ball. In the third ODI, he followed that up with 3/44 and an unbeaten 37. His contribution was especially important because Afghanistan were under serious pressure during the chase. His bowling helped Afghanistan restrict Ireland to 206, while his batting then helped them cross the finish line.
Afghanistan Take 2-0 Lead in the Series
The victory also gave Afghanistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series against Ireland. Ireland had a chance to make the third ODI very interesting after reducing Afghanistan to 176/7. But Rashid Khan's calm batting ended their hopes. For Afghanistan, the result provides more confidence as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup. The team now has direct qualification secured and can focus on building a strong squad for the tournament.
What’s Next for Afghanistan?
Afghanistan's latest win shows that the team can handle pressure even when things do not go according to plan.
They had the match under control at one stage, lost several wickets quickly and then recovered through Rashid Khan's experience.
That ability to win close matches could be very important at the 2027 World Cup. For now, Afghanistan can celebrate both their series victory and their place in the next ODI World Cup. And once again, Rashid Khan was at the centre of it all.
