Afghanistan Beats Ireland in First ODI
Afghanistan defeated Ireland by 29 runs in the first one-day international in Belfast.
Afghanistan defeated Ireland by 29 runs in the first one-day international in Belfast.
The hosts, beaten 2-0 in the recent T20I series, were chasing a target of 228 to win but were bowled out for 198.
Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan picked up two wickets (2-41) while all-rounder Mohammad Nabi also snared two (2-42) as they secured victory.
Having slipped to 93-4, Ireland were relying on Andy Balbirnie, but when he fell for a gritty 55 their hopes evaporated.
Earlier, Afghanistan had to dig deep to post a total of 227-9.
Gulbadin Naib top-scored with 64 and shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 77 with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who hit 54. Tim Murtagh took 4-31 and Boyd Rankin finished with 3-44.
