Persistent rain washed out the first One-Day International between Ireland and Afghanistan without a ball being bowled in Stormont on Sunday (July 10).
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O’Brien and Barry McCarthy both took four Afghanistan wickets, but the visitors’ total still proved comfortably beyond the Irish. The former Afghanistan skipper struck in the 15th over to get rid of a sedate Porterfield but the loss of his batting partner only served to strengthen Joyce’s resolve, who duly ploughed on to complete his 12th ODI fifty, during a 43-run stand with John Anderson. Kevin O’Brien, William Porterfield and Andy McBrine were crucial for Ireland against a young Sri Lankan side, and they should play an important role this series as well.
Joyce went on to get a half-century, but things started changing once he was dismissed by Mirwais Ashraf after scoring 62 in 87 balls to leave Ireland at 114 for 2.
But Rashid accounted for Anderson after a 55-ball 26 – of which 24 runs came in fours and sixes – and O’Brien soon after to swing the match Afghanistan’s way.
Paul Stirling, Sean Terry, Gary Wilson.
It started well for Afghanistan as Shahzad and Javed Ahmadi strung together a 76-run stand, with Shahzad very much the more enterprising of the two.
Barry McCarthy, in only his third global, also ensured Ireland finished well, taking wickets in each of his last four overs and ensuring a less than hectic finale by having the risky left-hander Najibullah Zadran caught at cover for 59 from 61 balls.
Peter Chase made a promising return to the bowling attack, although it was O’Brien who Ireland were initially forced to rely on for wickets. The second ODI of the five-match series will be held at the same venue on Tuesday.
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Brief scores: Afghanistan 250 (Shahzad 66, Najibullah Zadran 59, O’Brien 4-45, McCarthy 4-59) beat Ireland 211 (Joyce 62, Rashid Khan 3-28, Nabi 3-45) by 39 runs.
