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Afghanistan will look to tighten their grip on the five-match ODI series when they face Ireland in the third ODI at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast, on Monday, August 10. With the opening game washed out by rain, Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead after producing a dominant 92-run victory in the second ODI at Bready.
The visitors will now need just one more victory to move to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Ireland, meanwhile, have plenty of work to do after their batting unit struggled against Afghanistan’s attack in the second game. The hosts were bowled out for 207 while chasing 300, with Rashid Khan’s sensational six-wicket haul proving decisive.
Afghanistan enter the contest with considerable confidence after putting together an impressive all-round performance in the second ODI. Ibrahim Zadran led the batting effort with a composed 84 off 97 deliveries, while Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai also made important contributions as Afghanistan posted 299.
The biggest talking point, however, was Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan leg-spinner returned outstanding figures of 6/34, dismantling Ireland’s middle and lower order with his variations and control. Ireland will have to devise a much better strategy against spin if they are to prevent Afghanistan from taking another significant step towards winning the series.
Rahmat Shah will also be leading Afghanistan in his first ODI series as captain after taking over from Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shah’s appointment came shortly before the tour, with the experienced batter assuming the leadership role for the five-match series.
Ireland’s biggest concern heading into the third ODI will be their batting. Cade Carmichael provided some resistance with a 62 off 66 balls in the previous match, while Andy Balbirnie also made a valuable contribution, but the hosts were unable to maintain partnerships against Afghanistan’s attack.
The return of Paul Stirling provides Ireland with a significant boost. Stirling has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of the team’s recent T20I series against India and has been named captain for the first three ODIs. Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher will also have important roles to play if Ireland are to build a competitive total.
Ireland’s squad for the first three games also includes ODI debutants Jai Moondra, Ben Calitz and Byron McDonough, while several experienced bowlers remain unavailable because of injuries.
The third ODI will be played at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast. The venue traditionally offers assistance to seamers, particularly when the conditions are overcast. The new ball can move in the air and off the surface, making the opening exchanges particularly important for both batting sides.
At the same time, batters who survive the initial spell should be able to score freely once they settle. The surface is unlikely to offer the same degree of assistance to spin as the Bready pitch did, which could provide Ireland with some relief after their struggles against Rashid.
Afghanistan have established an advantage in the ODI rivalry in recent years. According to available head-to-head records, the two teams had played 31 ODIs before the 2026 series, with Afghanistan winning 17 and Ireland claiming 13 victories, while one match ended without a result.
The second ODI added another Afghanistan victory to that tally, extending their overall advantage further. Ireland, therefore, will be looking to produce a response on home soil.
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Cade Carmichael, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, Ben Calitz, Gavin Hoey, Jai Moondra, Byron McDonough.
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
With Afghanistan needing only one more victory to take an unassailable series lead, the pressure is firmly on Ireland. The hosts will need a stronger batting performance and a way to neutralise Rashid Khan, while Afghanistan will look to replicate the discipline that produced a comprehensive victory in the second ODI.
If Ireland can make the most of the early assistance available at Stormont and their top order spends substantial time at the crease, they have enough quality to challenge the visitors. Afghanistan, however, enter the contest with greater momentum and will be the favourites to move one step closer to a series triumph.
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