Despite yet another century from Paul Stirling, his fourth in the last six games, Ireland were whitewashed 3-0 by Afghanistan in the World Cup qualifiers in Abu Dhabi.
Chasing a total of 267 to win, Andy Balbirnie's side were 36 runs shy, giving their opponents the maximum 30 points for the three-match series.
After losing the toss, Afghanistan were sent out to bat first, registering a score of 266 for 9 in their 50 overs.
In reply, Ireland were all out for 230, with Stirling’s magnificent 118 not enough to help drag Graham Ford’s side over the line
The start was delayed by an hour as a result of a highway closure preventing both team buses from reaching the stadium in time
Irish coach Graham Ford rang the changes dropping the out of form Kevin O’Brien along with Gareth Delany and Barry McCarthy, replaced by Josh McCollum, Josh Little and Mark Adair.
Opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz was brutal on Craig Young, smacking 16 off the very first over, but Young had his revenge in his second over, clean bowling the Afghan wicketkeeper for 22, giving the Irish bowler his first wicket of the series.
Young’s bowling was wayward at times, but Afghanistan lost another two wickets when Mark Adair took a magnificent catch falling backwards to pick up the wicket of Javed Ahmadi for 19 and then removing the dangerous Rahmat Shah for 2.
Andy McBrine accounted Shahidi for 10 with the score 66 for 4 after 12 overs before Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi took Afghanistan to 117.
Simi Singh eventually trapped Nabi in front for 32, given out after review in the 27th over.
Afghan ran up a total of 41, while Gulbadin Naib chipped in with 36 runs to help take Afghanistan past the 200 mark.
In addition to Nabi, Singh took the wickets of Afghan and Nabi in a fine ten over spell which yielded three for 37.
However, Rashid Khan, as he regularly does, showed what a class act he is down the order, smacking 48 off 40 deliveries to take him past 1000 ODI runs, with 22 runs where added by the last Afghan batmen.
Ireland brought in McCollum as a replacement for O’Brien, but he was out LBW for 3, a decision he should have reviewed, while captain Balbirnie saw his poor tour continue when he was out for 5.
Paul Stirling, though, continued his brilliant series, making 50 off 38 deliveries, and together with Harry Tector (24) Ireland reached 123 for 3 in the 20th over.
Stirling went to pass his century off 101 deliveries, his 12th in ODI cricket and his 4th in his last six games, as his partners perished around him with Khan’s mystery deliveries causing devastation as he finished with figures of 4 for 29.
Curtis Campher (12) Lorcan Tucker (22) Mark Adair (2) Simi Singh (20) Andy McBrine (16) and Craig Young (0) couldn't hang around long enough to help Stirling who was bowled by Mujeeb in the 37th over for a magnificent 118.
Sadly, all in vain for a disappointing Ireland.
