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Ireland International Matches
Afghanistan beat Ireland by 138 runs
ODI, Sharjah, 5 December 2017
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Ireland slumped to a comprehensive 138-run loss to Afghanistan in the first match of their three game ODI series in Sharjah.

The pre-match talk had centered on how the Irish would handle their recent nemesis, 18 year-old leg-spinner Rashid Khan, but it was to be a 16 year-old off-spinner who would leave the Irish batting in tatters.

Debutant Mujeeb Zadran spun Afghanistan to success in the recent U19 Asia Cup tournament and his elevation to the senior ranks couldn't have gone much better as he removed Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien in quick succession to record figures of 4 for 24.

Dalwat Zadran accounted for the recalled Niall O'Brien, and when Simi Singh was trapped lbw by Rashid, Ireland were in disarray at 46 for 6, and in danger of recording their lowest ODI total - 77 back at the 2007 World Cup in an attack which featured Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.

Skipper William Porterfield ensured they would be spared that ignominy with a battling 35, while Stuart Poynter's unbeaten 27 ensured the Irish reached three figures - their 5th lowest ODI total.

Mujeeb claimed the Man-of-the-Match for his four-wicket haul, pipping Rashid Khan who took 3 for 28 to follow up his hard-hit 48 in the Afghanistan total of 238.

Boyd Rankin (4-44) and Tim Murtagh (3-28) both bowled well after Afghanistan had looked on course to post 270 thanks to a 3rd wicket stand of 105 between Nasir Jamal and Rahmat Shah, who both scored half centuries.

A mid-innings collapse saw the Afghans lose four wickets for five runs in a six over spell, as they went from 127 for 2 to 132 for 6, but in an all too recurring theme against Ireland, their lower order powered them out of trouble.

Khan hit 4 fours and a six in his 48 from 49 balls, while Shafiqullah cleared the ropes three times in a destructive 36 from just 23 deliveries.

Kevin O'Brien dismissed Rashid with the final delivery of the innings, becoming the first Irishman to take 100 ODI wickets on a night when there was little else to celebrate in a chastening defeat.

Ireland have a chance to bounce back when the teams meet again in the second match of the 3-match series on Thursday 7 December at the same venue.

Ian Callender (Belfast Telegraph)

Paul Stirling may achieve many things in his cricketing career but the most memorable may be that he was the first victim of Mujeeb Zadran.

All the talk before Ireland's three-match one-day series in Sharjah was how would they cope with teenage spin sensation Rashid Khan. Well, as of yesterday, he has an even younger rival for that title, a 16-year-old who announced his arrival on the international scene with four wickets in his first seven overs to reduce Ireland to 46 for six and staring at their lowest ever total in a one-day international.

With Afghanistan having already posted 238 for nine, the game was over as a contest even before Rashid came on to bowl but the 19-year-old still had the final say, taking Ireland's last two wickets to wrap up what the stadium announcer described as a "comprehensive victory".

In truth, it was an unfair contest because, even in these days when there is footage available of every international, Ireland went in blind against Mujeeb because he had been called into the squad on the back of his performances in the Asia Under-19 Cup when he took 20 wickets at an average of 5.5! So against a batting line-up which has never been the greatest at playing quality spin bowling, Stirling was trapped in front to the seventh ball he faced from Mujeeb, Andrew Balbirnie lasted just five, Gary Wilson was bowled behind his legs to his third and Kevin O'Brien managed seven balls before he was out sweeping. Meanwhile Dawlat Zadran, their only serious pace bowler, had started with three successive maidens and then nipped out Niall O'Brien, caught at mid-wicket leaving skipper William Porterfield to try and explain what went wrong.

"We knew the young lad was in the squad and he was a very good bowler but going forward we have now have 60 balls of footage and it's up to us to deal with him better on Thursday and come back stronger. We will have to come up with a game plan to play him and he proved he was pretty effective with the new ball."

Porterfield also admitted he was unsure what to do when he won the toss and elected to bowl first but after a look at the pitch decided that it wouldn't spin as much as anticipated and left out Jacob Mulder in favour of playing Stuart Poynter as the extra batsmen. Peter Chase lost his place to Niall O'Brien with Kevin O'Brien - who became the first Ireland bowler to take 100 ODI wickets when he dismissed Rashid with the last ball of the innings - used as the third seamer and Stirling was the third spinner.

Porterfield's reasoning proved sound because Ireland's slow bowlers sent down 20 overs and finished with 0-110 although Boyd Rankin, who finished with best ODI figures and Tim Murtagh, with an economical three - his last ball actually went for six - did all they could to keep the Afghan total in check.

When Ireland's experienced opening pair returned to reduce their newest Full Member rivals from 127 for two to 132 for six, Ireland were on top but, as happened so often in India last March the Afghan tail wagged emphatically and three sixes ensured that 50 came off the last five overs.