Afghanistan vs Ireland Live ஸ்கோர், 3rd ODI of Afghanistan tour of Ireland, 2026

That's a wrap - That brings us to the end of a thrilling contest as Afghanistan extend their series lead to 2-0. The action continues with the 4th ODI on Wednesday, August 12, starting at 9.45 am GMT. Be sure to tune in early for all the pre-match buildup and analysis as Ireland look to bounce back and Afghanistan aim to maintain their dominance. Until then, it's a wrap from our end. Cheers and goodbye!

The captain of Afghanistan - Rahmat Shah says that it was a low-scoring match and he is happy to be on the winning side. Reflecting on the bowling performance, he says he had provided the bowlers with plans based on the field placements and match situation. He praises Yamin Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar for bowling to their fields and assessing the conditions intelligently. Rahmat also underlines that he felt nervous during the closing stages, as low scoring games can be particularly tense. He also highlights Ireland’s ninth-wicket partnership as a key lesson, saying Afghanistan would look to break such stands much earlier in future matches whenever the opportunity arises.

The captain of Ireland - Paul Stirling reflects that the main takeaway from both matches was Ireland’s ability to put themselves in competitive positions. He feels that they had been well ahead during the Powerplay and believes that an additional 20 or 30 runs could have made the difference in this game. Further explains that the pitch was tricky, offering plenty of assistance to the seamers before gripping and turning for the spinners. Stirling believes that a total of 220 or 230 could have been enough on the surface. He expresses his delight with the fight shown by Jai Moondra and Gavin Hoey with the bat, who made the ball look easier to handle than Ireland’s top-order batters. He says the surface nipped, stopped and spun as it softened, while the heavy roller used during the interval also played a significant role in changing the conditions. Adds that the Afghanistan bowlers enjoyed the best of the first 10 overs, which proved to be a major shift in the match. On Gavin Hoey's performance, he is all praise for him, saying the young wrist-spinner had been selected to provide a big threat. Stirling is particularly impressed by Hoey’s control while bowling with two slips and attacking field settings, adding that he will only improve with experience. Looking ahead, Stirling stresses that Ireland need to keep developing and learn to put together a complete 100-over performance. He feels the team is currently producing strong passages in isolation and stresses that the challenge would be carrying that improvement into the next match.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Rashid Khan receives the award for his impressive all-round performance. He finished with figures of 3/44 in 10 overs. He also contributed massively with the bat with his unbeaten knock of 37 runs in 43 balls. There appears to be a technical issue with the microphone, so his comments are difficult to hear clearly. However, he looks pretty chuffed up and his delight is clearly evident as he proudly holds the award while speaking to the broadcaster.

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Rashid seals the win - With the pressure mounting and Ireland smelling an upset, superstar Rashid Khan brought much-needed calm to the Afghan dugout. Rashid compiled a serene 37 runs, keeping the scoreboard ticking while absorbing all the pressure the Irish attack threw at him. At the other end, Yamin Ahmadzai played a stubborn hand, scoring 4 off 26 balls and refusing to give his wicket away. Despite Gavin Hoey's heroic four-wicket haul, Afghanistan held their nerve to cross the finish line with three wickets to spare, wrapping up a memorable match and the series title.

Gurbaz shines, Hoey strikes - Chasing 207, Afghanistan looked in total control early on behind a brilliant knock from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Gurbaz played the role of aggressor, charging to 71 off 77 balls alongside solid contributions from Sediqullah Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi. However, Ireland refused to lie down. Pick of the bowlers Gavin Hoey produced a game-changing spell, removing Gurbaz in the 29th over and sending Darwish Rasooli back soon after. When Mark Adair removed Azmatullah Omarzai for 13, Afghanistan were suddenly in trouble at 176/7, giving Ireland a genuine glimmer of hope.

The spin dominance - Electing to field first, Afghanistan drew early blood through Fazalhaq Farooqi, but Paul Stirling and Cade Carmichael managed to rebuild with a 44-run stand. The tide turned sharply when spin duo Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar (3/29) and Rashid Khan (3/44) tore through the middle order, leaving Ireland reeling at 128/8. Just as an early collapse loomed, Gavin Hoey and Jai Moondra staged a magnificent 76-run partnership for the ninth wicket to lift Ireland to a competitive 206. Yamin Ahmadzai finally broke the stand to finish with 2/35 as Ireland were bundled out in the final overs.

Afghanistan lead 2-0 - Afghanistan have extended their dominance in the series, taking a 2-0 lead after a hard-fought three-wicket victory. While Afghanistan proved why they are such a dangerous side by executing under pressure, Ireland deserve immense credit for refusing to surrender. The hosts turned what looked like a routine run-chase into a nail-biting finish, pushing the visitors to the absolute limit.

Rashid hits the winning runs! A length delivery on the stumps, and the Afghanistan captain gets down on one knee before whipping it powerfully towards deep square leg. The fielder launches into a tumbling dive, but the batters have already completed two runs. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 3 WICKETS! Rashid holds his nerve under pressure and finishes the job in style. He has been a genuine match-winner and has proved himself once again through his allround contributions. Afghanistan have now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. It surely got tense in the end, but their all-round strength once again proved decisive.

Full and around off, spins in, swept away to backward square leg.

Full and middle, Rashid Khan comes down the track and swings it hard but straight to the mid-wicket fielder.

FOUR! Innovative and mighty effective. Flat and full, outside off. Rashid Khan nails the reverse sweep, behind square on the off side and beats Jai Moondra to his left for a boundary at deep backward point. Afghanistan need only 2 runs. They are almost home now.

A big appeal for LBW, but not given. Inside edge, maybe? But that spun very sharply. Pitched outside off, full in length, Rashid Khan leans on to drive it to the cover region but gets a thick inside edge onto the front pad. The replay also confirms a big deviation off the bat.

Short in length, on top of the stumps. Rashid waits for the ball to arrive and swats it between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a single. Just 6 runs needed. Another expensive spell from Jai Moondra in this series. He finishes off with figures reading 10-0-67-0.

FOUR! That should be the game for Afghanistan. Bangs it on a length, on the stumps, at belly button height. Sits up nicely for the batter as Rashid gets into a good position before hammering it to the left of deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 200 UP FOR AFGHANISTAN! Just 7 runs needed for the visitors now.

Oh, a loopy full toss, dipping significantly below waist height. In fact, it's around thigh height of the batter. Yamin Ahmadzai gets into an awkward position but manages to fend it to the cover region for a single.

A bit too full, on off, Yamin Ahmadzai drives it straight to Tector at short cover.

A wide first slip in place. Jai comes from around the stumps and lands it on a length, around off, Yamin rocks back and drops it down the pitch with soft hands.

Rashid is now showing full faith in Yamin as he takes a single off the first ball. Back of a length, outside off, angling away further. Rashid Khan hangs back and slashes it through cover-point for a single.

Jai Moondra is back on for his final over. 9-0-60-0 so far.

Similar line and length, on the leg stump. Yamin alertly blocks it out with soft hands.

From around the stump now. Full, outside leg. Yamin Ahmadzai shows good resilience and defends it out.

On the stumps, on a length, Yamin Ahmadzai hangs back and stabs it on the pitch.

Full on the stumps, holds on a touch, and this is chipped on the bounce, back to the bowler.

A slip in place, along with short leg and a leg slip, fielders who are under the lid with Yamin on strike. Rashid walks over for a quick word, seemingly reminding him not to get carried away by the emotion of the moment. Meanwhile, Stirling is making wholesale changes to the field, constantly rearranging his resources in search of a breakthrough.

The length is dragged back, spins in from off. Rashid backs away and cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

Pushed through, full on off, Rashid Khan caresses it back to the bowler.

Excellent spell of bowling from Adair. 2/36 in 10 overs, including a maiden! Afghanistan are 14 runs adrift now and can see the finish line. Would like to cross that without any adventures. Harry Tector returns. 3-0-12-0 so far.

Hammers it short and on middle, Rashid Khan crouches a bit and swats it to deep backward square leg for a single.