Zadran Atal Centuries Power Afghanistan to Series Win Over Ireland

Zadran Atal Tons Propel Afghanistan to Series Win Over Ireland

Afghanistan didn't just win a cricket match in Belfast they rewrote a piece of their own record books along the way. Ibrahim Zadran's century in this Ireland series and Sediqullah Atal's century fittingly arriving on his birthday powered Afghanistan to an imposing 343 for 9 setting up a 42-run win over Ireland that confirmed Afghanistan's series win with an unassailable 3-0 lead one game still to play For a side that had already secured direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup this Afghanistan Ireland ODI series in 2026 was shaping up as a statement of intent rather than a formality.

A Record-Breaking Afghanistan Partnership Built the Foundation

Having already locked in their World Cup spot Afghanistan batted with real freedom and it showed Ireland had the ideal start removing in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz the top-scorer from Monday's thriller in just the second over But that early breakthrough was as good as it got for the hosts.

Zadran and Atal then combined for the Afghanistan record partnership of the innings — 231 runs for the second wicket the highest in the country's ODI history eclipsing a 16-year-old record of 218 held by Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad against Scotland Zadran played copybook cricket for much of his innings relying on strike rotation while Atal was the more enterprising of the two regularly using his feet to attack legspinner Gavin Hoey — a deliberate approach aimed at throwing Hoey off the lengths that had brought him a four-wicket haul in the previous game.

Zadran reached his half-century off 56 balls before accelerating bringing up his second fifty in just 51 more deliveries to complete his seventh ODI century — the Ibrahim Zadran century that anchored the Afghanistan innings against Ireland's tall seam attack of Byron McDonough and Liam McCarthy who had replaced left-arm bowler Jai Moondra.

Atal marking a Sediqullah Atal century on his 25th birthday matched the occasion with real maturity picking boundaries consistently through the middle overs whenever the innings threatened to slow He kept injecting urgency into the innings and at one stage looked destined for 150 or more before miscuing a slog down to long-on to fall for 143 an innings studded with 17 fours and four sixes.

From there cameos from Darwish Rasooli and Rashid Khan nudged Afghanistan closer to the 350 mark though the final ten overs added just 86 runs Even so 343 for 9 was always going to be a stiff ask on that surface.

Rashid Khan's Bowling and a Middle-Order Collapse Sealed Ireland's Fate

Ireland's chase never carried the urgency the target demanded The first eight overs brought just 25 runs as Yamin Ahmadzai and Azmatullah Omarzai extracted impressive swing with the new ball regularly beating Paul Stirling while Andy Balbirnie played cautiously clearly hoping to build the chase around a deep patient innings

That patience never accounted for Rashid Khan's bowling against Ireland through the middle overs Stirling fell in the 11th over trapped lbw by mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar and Cade Carmichael followed shortly after Harry Tector then added 76 for the third wicket alongside Balbirnie Ireland's only real period of control in the innings But once Tector holed out to deep backward square the chase unraveled as the required rate climbed out of reach.

Rashid Khan then delivered the decisive blow returning to remove Andy Balbirnie's century — a determined 109 — and Ben Calitz off consecutive deliveries With the match effectively gone Curtis Campher switched into T20 mode smashing an uncomplicated 84 off just 46 balls an innings built on clean hitting that produced eight fours and five sixes His dismissal as the ninth wicket to fall in the 48th over meant Ireland finished on 301 a total that flattered the chase but was never close to threatening Afghanistan is total.

The result confirmed Afghanistan's series win over Ireland with one match still to be played a fitting reward for a batting performance built on record-breaking partnership play and clinical bowling when it mattered most.

What was the final result of the match?

Afghanistan beat Ireland by 42 runs, posting 343 for 9 before bowling Ireland out for 301, sealing an unassailable 3-0 series lead with one match remaining.

Who were the standout performers for Afghanistan?

Ibrahim Zadran (107) and Sediqullah Atal (143) were the standout performers, combining for a 231-run second-wicket stand, the highest partnership record in Afghanistan's ODI history. Rashid Khan also played a key role with the ball, taking 3 wickets including the crucial dismissals of Balbirnie and Calitz.

What record did Zadran and Atal break?

Their 231-run second-wicket partnership surpassed the previous Afghanistan record of 218, set by Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad against Scotland 16 years earlier.

How did Ireland perform despite the loss?

Ireland fought back through Andy Balbirnie's century and a rapid 84 off 46 balls from Curtis Campher but a middle-order collapse triggered by Rashid Khan's bowling proved too costly to overcome.

Had Afghanistan already qualified for the World Cup before this match?

Yes Afghanistan had already secured direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup heading into this series which added context to their aggressive template-shifting batting approach in this match.

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