Rahmat Shah century powers Afghanistan to 4-0 ODI series sweep over Ireland

A composed 143* from skipper Rahmat Shah, compiled after walking in with his team in trouble at 22 for 2, secured Afghanistan a 4-0 series victory over Ireland on Saturday (August 15). Chasing 299, Afghanistan lost both openers early before Rahmat shared a 201-run stand with Sediqullah Atal (98) to lead the visitors to a six-wicket win.

With a sizeable total to defend, Ireland started well with the new ball. Ibrahim Zadran was the first to fall, attempting a pull against Liam McCarthy in the fourth over. George Dockrell caught Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a great catch running back from mid-on an over later, resulting in McCarthy's second wicket. Having assumed control, Ireland remained disciplined for the rest of the Powerplay, with Afghanistan only scoring 30 for 2.

Atal and Rahmat didn't give up and waited for their turn. The required run-rate soared past 7 runs per over as early as the 13th over but the two batters never lost their composure. The shift in tempo came in the 16th over with Rahmat hammering Gavin Hoey for a six over deep-midwicket and Atal backing it up with a boundary three balls later.

Having settled in and attained comfort at the crease, the duo confidently punished anything that was loose. Both batters brought up fifty and kept striking timely boundaries as Ireland continued to grow desperate. The partnership, largely chanceless barring a top-edge that landed safe and a slight mix-up, had swelled to 200 by the 40th over.

Just as it seemed like Ireland were without hope, McCarthy returned to break the partnership. Eager to reach three figures, Atal heaved a length delivery towards deep midwicket only for Cade Carmichael to swoop in and take a stunning catch. The veteran Rahmat did not make the same mistake, reaching his first century in more than five years in the 42nd over.

Azmatullah Omarzai also played a crucial hand, contributing a 14-ball 24 in a 56-run partnership with Rahmat, to tilt the game decisively in Afghanistan’s favour. Fittingly, it was the captain who sealed Afghanistan’s highest run-chase in ODIs with a boundary in the 49th over.

Earlier in the day, both teams made three changes each with the series already decided. Afghanistan opted to bowl upon winning the toss and caused plenty of problems for the Irish openers with the new ball. In the end, Omarzai struck twice in the seventh out to eliminate Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie. After that, AM Ghazanfar ended two new partnerships, dismissing Carmichael in the fifteenth over and Lorcan Tucker in the nineteenth.

Harry Tector and Curtis Campher then stitched a crucial 55-run stand before Nangeyalia Kharoti dismissed Tector for 53. Campher was then joined by Dockrell and the duo ensured Ireland didn’t lose momentum. Afghanistan were unable to contain Ireland at the end, and Omarzai returned to end the threatening 72-run stand. The hosts managed 101 runs off the final 10 overs, with Campher’s carnage ending on 96 when he was dismissed by Saleem Safi in the final over of the innings.