Trump orders fewer childhood vaccinations including splitting up MMR
· Al Jazeera
Belfast: Afghanistan booked their place at the 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa after a thrilling three-wicket victory over Ireland in the second match of their five-game series, with captain Rashid Khan once again proving decisive with both bat and ball.
22 Overs Completed!
AM Ghazanfar (2/6), @rashidkhan_19 (1/8), @fazalfarooqi10 (1/21) and @yamiinkhan99 (1/30) have chipped in with wickets each as the home side reach 90/5 after 22 overs in the first innings. #AfghanAtalan | #IREvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/SvSk38fVxmVisit bettingx.bond for more information.
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 10, 2026
This victory secures Afghanistan's place in the 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa. They will make their fourth straight appearance at the tournament and take a strong 2-0 lead in the five-match series against Ireland.
.....! @rashidkhan_19 did what he does best as he went through the defenses of Harry Tector for 14 to give Afghanistan the 6th wicket in the game.
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 10, 2026
- 106/6 (26.2 Overs)#AfghanAtalan | #IREvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/fGx4qbCPl0
Rashid took three wickets, helping Afghanistan limit Ireland to 206. He then scored an unbeaten 37 as Afghanistan chased down the target with more than five overs to spare. This win gave Afghanistan a 2-0 lead in the series and guaranteed their spot in a fourth consecutive World Cup.
Wickets Continue to Tumble in Belfast!
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 10, 2026
Rashid Khan (3/29) and AM Ghazanfar (3/19) complete three wickets each in the game as Afghanistan get 8 wickets in the game.
- 128/8 (29.4 Ov)#AfghanAtalan | #IREvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/qVsg8E7n9k
Rashid had previously claimed six wickets in the second match of the series, showcasing his impressive form ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
After trailing 1-0 in the series, Ireland put up a strong fight after Afghanistan seemed to be in control. From 97 for 2, Ireland’s innings looked shaky until young Gavin Hoey stepped up with an excellent spell of legspin.
- !
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 10, 2026
3/44 with the ball!
37* with the bat! @rashidkhan_19 delivered another brilliant all-round performance to guide Afghanistan to victory and claim his second successive Player of the Match award! #AfghanAtalan |… pic.twitter.com/r4JZlbJJNk
Hoey’s flight, dip, and sharp turn caused difficulties for Afghanistan. His figures of 4 for 34 in the middle overs brought Ireland back into the game. This included the important wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 71.
Hoey received good support from seamer Mark Adair, who continued to find small deviations from the pitch. However, after Hoey finished his spell by the 33rd over, Ireland ran out of effective bowlers as Afghanistan kept their composure.
| @rashidkhan_19 (37*) held his nerves after @RGurbaz_21 (71) scored a crucial half-century to help Afghanistan chase down the target by 3 wickets and take a 2-0 lead in the 5-match ODI series against Ireland.… pic.twitter.com/zl1Ebv6KIO
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 10, 2026
Ireland’s innings was saved by a record ninth-wicket partnership between Hoey and Jai Moondra. With Ireland struggling at 128 for 8 against Afghanistan’s spinners, the duo added 76 runs for the ninth wicket.
Hoey was the top scorer with 36, while Moondra contributed 31 in only his second ODI innings. Moondra was the more aggressive of the two, showing great awareness and footwork against the Afghan spin.
BIG wicket! #BackingGreen | #IREvARG | #FailteSolar pic.twitter.com/JasQdwqrWg
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) August 10, 2026
After hitting a full toss, Moondra struck four more boundaries before edging one to Gurbaz off Yamin Ahmadzai, who was playing his first ODI since 2022. This was Ahmadzai’s second wicket.
Ireland’s innings ended in the 47th over when Hoey tried a big hit off Azmatullah Omarzai and was bowled. By that time, Rashid and Ghazanfar had impressive figures of 6 for 73 after dismantling Ireland’s top order, which included the wickets of Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher, and Ben Calitz.
Cool, calm, collected!#BackingGreen | #IREvAFG | #FailteSolar pic.twitter.com/nWBwleaoO9
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) August 10, 2026
Afghanistan began the chase aggressively. Gurbaz took the fight to the Irish fast bowlers, particularly targeting Moondra, who struggled to get the same movement as Adair.
Gurbaz reached his eighth ODI fifty with a big shot over deep midwicket, but Afghanistan quickly came under pressure. Sediqullah Atal dragged a delivery from Hoey to long-on for 27, and Rahmat Shah was bowled by an excellent delivery from Adair that nipped back to hit the top of off.
Cricket is for everyone
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) August 10, 2026
Our staff are wearing pink throughout the Ireland Men v Afghanistan series to recognise and celebrate universal human rights for women and girls and in solidarity with the Afghan Women’s Refugee team.
We explain why – and the steps Cricket Ireland is… pic.twitter.com/Z3qX4v9hcP
Hoey continued to mix his pace and mostly bowled stump-to-stump, using tactics similar to those of Afghanistan’s spinners. Hashmatullah Shahidi then hit a half-tracker straight to Moondra at deep square, while Darwish Rasooli got out trying to sweep, toe-ending the ball to midwicket.
Afghanistan faced more trouble when Omarzai tried a lofted shot and got caught at cover, leaving Ireland hopeful for an unlikely victory.
!
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 10, 2026
Hear from @RGurbaz_21 as he reflects on the game and sends his congratulations to the Afghan fans following another memorable victory! #AfghanAtalan | #IREvAFG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/87qRn1mc3q
However, Rashid stayed calm under pressure. The Afghanistan captain played a careful and confident innings, waiting to attack until his team needed only 15 runs to win.
He closed the target to single digits with a wristy whip before hitting the winning runs, scoring a couple off Harry Tector in the 45th over. This brought huge celebrations in the Afghan camp.
Sourav Ganguly, Wife Dona Receive Death Threat Letters; Kolkata Police Launch ProbeHoey, who achieved a career-best 4/34 in ODI cricket, said Rashid’s words after his spell meant a lot to him.
Ahmadzai played a key role in Afghanistan’s successful chase, scoring 4 not out off 26 balls while his team maintained their focus in a tense finish.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)