On a day that Irish cricket paid a silent tribute to their late team manager Roy Torrens, Irelands men's team lost to Afghanistan by seven wickets in their second world cup qualifying tie in Abu Dhabi to fall 2-0 behind in the three-match series.
Having won the toss, Ireland made 259 for 9 in their 50 overs helped once again by a magnificent 128 from opener Paul Stirling from 132 deliveries.
In reply Afghanistan made 260 for 3 off 45.2 overs on a benign pitch which offered little to the Irish bowling attack, denting their hopes of qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in India through the World Cup Super League.
Batting first, Ireland saw key batsmen Kevin O'Brien (1) and captain Andy Balbirnie (5) failing to shine for the second match running, relying heavily on Stirling to build their innings.
A 4th wicket stand of 84 between Stirling and Harry Tector steadied the innings taking Ireland to the midway point, before Tector fell for a patient 24 with Ireland 104 for 3 in the 25th over.
Stirling, joined by Curtis Campher, continued however to batter the Afghanistan attack all over the ground, reaching his 11th century for his country and his second in as many innings off 113 balls with 11 fours and three sixes, lifting his bat to the heavens in tribute to Torrens in quiet celebration.
The pair took Ireland to 210 before Campher (47) fell to the spin of Rashid Khan in the 42nd over and Stirling followed soon afterwards as Ireland then struggled to their total of 259 for 9 which in the end wasn't enough.
In reply the Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Javed Ahmadi started in a blitz reaching 44 by the 8th over, but both fell in quick succession with Barry McCarthy and Curtis Campher trapping both batsmen lbw in the powerplay, Afghanistan at that stage on 48 for 2.
💯 for Rahmat Shah!
— Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) January 24, 2021
Well played 🙌#BackingGreen☘️ #AFGvIRE pic.twitter.com/92FWigcaW0
However Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah pushed Afghanistan past the 150 mark by the 29th over setting Rahmat Shah brings up his 17th ODI fifty.
The pair eventually put on 184, a record third wicket stand for the Afghans, Hashmatullah falling in the 42nd over for 82 off 100 deliveries well caught in the deep by Craig Young off the bowling of Simi Singh.
Shah thought completed his well earned century, his 5th for his country as he remained unbeaten on 103 as Afghanistan won with 4.4 overs to spare.
Afghanistan have now won the three-match series, leaving 2-0 with one match to play on Tuesday with world cup qualifying points still on the line.
Scores Ireland 259/9 (50 overs) Afghanistan 260 for 3 in 45.2 overs and win by seven wickets.
