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Ireland
Afghanistan
Ireland and Afghanistan will face each other in the 5th and final ODI at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. Afghanistan entered the match with a 3-0 lead after winning the last 3 games convincingly, while the opening ODI was abandoned due to rain. AFG have 3 wins and 2 losses in their last 5 ODIs, while Ireland are winless in their last 5.
Afghanistan will look to finish the series strongly after winning 2 matches by setting competitive totals and defending them. If they bat first again, their batting depth will give them a strong chance of putting Ireland under pressure. Ireland will need a better batting performance to challenge Afghanistan, with Paul Stirling's side having struggled against their bowling attack.
Afghanistan will also have the recent head-to-head record in their favour, with 4 wins and one abandoned match in the last 5 meetings. 3 of those wins came while defending totals.
Afghanistan's top order has been more consistent throughout the series, with Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal producing big scores in the last match and becoming the top-scoring batters
The betting tip is...
Top Batterβs Team - Afghanistan
64 %
36 %
IrelandAfghanistanIreland conceded 350 in the last match, with two Afghanistan top-order batters scoring centuries. Byron McDonough had taken 3 wickets, while Mark Adair and Gavin Hoey had taken 2 each. Hoey has 7 wickets in the series.
In the chase, Andy Balbirnie, Ireland's leading run scorer in the series, had scored a century but he received limited support from the top order.
Harry Tector had scored 34, while Paul Stirling had made 27. Curtis Campher had scored 84 off 46 balls at number six, taking Ireland past 300, but the total was not enough to win the match. Overall, Ireland needs to improve in both departments to match Afghanistanβs all-round prowess.
Balbirnie, Hoey and Adair are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, Mark Adair, Gavin Hoey, Liam McCarthy and Byron McDonough
Ibrahim Zadran scored 107, and Sediqullah Atal made 143 to set up Afghanistan's first-innings total of 343/9. The duo had batted through the majority of the innings and had been the key reason behind Afghanistan's strong batting performance in the series.
After their dismissals, Afghanistan lost wickets in quick succession. With both batters consistently contributing, Afghanistan had dominated Ireland in the series.
With the ball, Rashid Khan had taken 3 wickets to reach 12 wickets in the series. Yamin Ahmadzai had taken 4 wickets and had 6 wickets in two games. Azmatullah Omarzai had taken 2 wickets, while AM Ghazanfar had taken 1. Afghanistan had been stronger in both departments.
Atal, Zadran and Rashid are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah (c), Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, AM Ghazanfar and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
Afghanistan will have the edge in the fifth ODI after dominating Ireland with both bat and ball throughout the series. Their top order will be the key factor, with Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal having scored 107 and 143 in the previous match. Their ability to build big partnerships will give Afghanistan a strong platform again.
Ireland will need a much better performance from its top order after Andy Balbirnie's century received limited support in the last game.
Afghanistan's bowling attack will also remain a major threat, with Rashid Khan already having 12 wickets in the series and Yamin Ahmadzai taking 6 wickets in two matches. Afghanistan's stronger batting depth and more consistent bowling will give them the advantage in Belfast.
