Afghanistan vs Ireland, AFG vs IRE 2024, Today Match Prediction 09 March 2024

AFG vs IRE Match Prediction & Analysis

A dominant performance in the first game of the ODI series saw Afghanistan complete five successive wins over Ireland in this format.

The margin of victory in the end was 35 runs, but the score line doesn't give you the whole story. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz played some beautiful cricketing shots on his way to a huge hundred, helping Afghanistan set a massive total on a slow and dry surface.

In reply, Ireland fought tooth and nail with Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker getting the team out of an early setback. Despite losing the top order cheaply, Ireland stayed in the hunt for almost 40 overs but the contest was well and truly over when Tucker was dismissed.

Afghanistan will go into this match with more confidence, looking to seal the series. But, then again, they know they need to be at their absolute best against this spirited Irish unit, who'll throw everything they got to level the series and force the series into a decider. This definitely promises to be another gripping contest.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

AFG

W L L L

AFG

310/5 in 50.0 6.2

AFG vs IRE 2024

Afghanistan beat Ireland by 35 runs 07 Mar 2024

IRE

275/8 in 50.0 5.5

SL

267/3 in 35.2 7.56

SL vs AFG 2024

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets 14 Feb 2024

AFG

266/10 in 48.2 5.5

SL

308/6 in 50.0 6.16

SL vs AFG 2024

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 155 runs 11 Feb 2024

AFG

153/10 in 33.5 4.52

SL

381/3 in 50.0 7.62

SL vs AFG 2024

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 42 runs 09 Feb 2024

AFG

339/6 in 50.0 6.78

IRE

L W W

AFG

310/5 in 50.0 6.2

AFG vs IRE 2024

Afghanistan beat Ireland by 35 runs 07 Mar 2024

IRE

275/8 in 50.0 5.5

ZIM

197/10 in 40.0 4.92

ZIM vs IRE 2023

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets (D/L) method 17 Dec 2023

IRE

204/3 in 37.5 5.39

ZIM

166/10 in 42.5 3.88

ZIM vs IRE 2023

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets 15 Dec 2023

IRE

170/6 in 40.1 4.23

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Afghanistan Preview

The Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put down the anchor early on, but as soon as they figured the pitch wasn’t doing plenty, they cut loose. Ibrahim played within himself while Rahmanullah took on the attack and scored runs freely when the opportunity presented itself.

After Ibrahim’s departure for a well-compiled 60, Rahmanullah continued playing some beautiful shots shimmying down the wicket. He struck a useful partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai keeping him company for a brief time. But van Woerkom dismissed both of them in the same over dashing Afghanistan’s hopes to get to 350.

Suddenly 300 looked too far away, and, with 11 overs still to go, Afghanistan needed someone to do a proper finishing job. Mohd. Nabi and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi came together to take the hosts to 310 ¬– an above par total on a slowish wicket. Afghanistan bowlers Farooqi and Omarzai started their defence well, swinging the ball prodigiously to trouble the Irish openers. Captain Stirling and ex-captain Balbirnie were dismissed in the powerplay, and Curtis Campher soon followed them to the pavilion in the 11th over. But the incoming Irish batsmen offered solid resistance for the next 28 overs.

Farooqi returned to bowl and sent Lorcan Tucker back, denying him a ton. And that was it for Ireland. Their innings went nowhere after him leaving. Picking up wickets in the middle overs is one area where Afghan bowlers disappointed in the first game, and they’ll be hoping to do better in the second.

Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Allah Ghazanfar.

Ireland Preview

The match could have taken a different course had the Irish not grassed the catch of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the ninth over when he was batting at 11. The miscue cost Ireland dearly with the swashbuckling opener going on to add 110 more runs at a fair clip. That was the pivotal moment of the match if there was one for the Irish.

Mark Adair couldn’t quite repeat his heroics from the test, but van Woerkom was impressive picking up three wickets, of which two came in one. He removed Gurbaz and Omarzai in the 39th over, but the rest of the attack was looking pedestrian.

Most of them couldn’t hit the right line and length and struggled for rhythm, leaking 98 runs in the final 11 overs. Chasing 311 for win, the Irish batters failed to see off the new ball swing bowlers Farooqi and Omarzai. The Irish batsmen let them get on top and lost their wickets in no time.

However, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker made sure the sudden loss of quick wickets didn’t derail their chase completely. The two batsmen combined for a huge partnership to keep the chase going, and, at one point, they started accelerating at will to catch up with the climbing run rate. But they lost Tucker against the run of play, and that set off another mini collapse -- which they couldn’t recover from at all.

Ireland Predicted Playing XI:

Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Theo van Woerkom, Graham Hume, Craig Young.

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch was low and slow, but Afghanistan did well to climb up to a huge score beyond the reach of the Irish. But they needed all the extra runs because there was significant dew the other night and the Irish batsmen scored freely as Afghan bowlers found it difficult to grip the ball. The weather forecast for this match is clear.

AFG vs IRE Pitch Report

Sharjah International Stadium, Sharjah will host the second match of the ODI series. These teams have met each other on four occasions at this venue, with Afghanistan winning twice and Ireland twice.

Toss: To Bowl

The team that wins the toss might opt to field first hoping to take full toll of the dewy conditions on offer while chasing.