It’s the final game of this short 2-match ODI series at Belfast where Ireland hosted Afghanistan yet again in international cricket. Ireland won’t be a part oft he upcoming ICC 2019 World Cup but for Afghanistan, it’s one of their last big chances to warm up before the major global tournament. The 1st ODI was pretty much a one-sided one, eventually won by the hosts Ireland by a comfortable margin of 72 runs.
Ireland named a 14-man squad and we don’t expect too many changes in their team. As for Afghanistan, they need to regroup and see where they went wrong as they won’t get too many more trial runs after this 2nd ODI. I’m expecting Afghanistan to bounce back and level the series 1-1. You can keep reading for our Fantain (Use Code “READ123”) fantasy preview of the IRE vs AFG 2nd ODI here…
Match info
- Tournament: Afghanistan tour of Ireland 2019.
- Date: 21st May 2019, 3:15pm IST
- Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast
- Capacity: 6,000+
- Series status: leads the 2-match series 1-0.
Form (recent first)
- IRE: W, L, L, L, L, W
- AFG: L, W, W, L, W, L
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Stats
- Afghanistan have won 4 of their 8 ODIs at this ground.
- 77, 130, 71 – Paul Stirling’s last 3 ODI scores (vs WI, BAN, AFG).
- 169 runs and 17 wickets – Rashid Khan’s record here in 8 matches.
- 75, 54, 82*, 67, 22*, 29 – Asghar Afghan’s last 6 ODI scores.
Ireland
It was the perfect mix of experience and young blood that took Ireland to victory in the 1st ODI. Tim Murtagh, who I always prefer to have in my fantasy team for Ireland matches, bagged 2 wickets for just 12 runs while Boy Rankin picked up 3 as well. The young Mark Adair did the major damage, picking up 4/19. Andy McBrine managed 4 maidens in his spell of 0/17 in 10 overs but I’ll skip him as these pitches don’t support spin much.
With the bat, I’m going to stick with the trio of Paul Stirling, William Porterfield and Andy Balbirnie. Porterfirled struggled with 10 poor international innings that had a best score of 21 but his last 2 knocks have fetched him 94 and 53. Stirling is in the form of his life and while Balbirnie failed in the 1st ODI, he has 3 centuries in his last 10 professional innings. I’d suggest picking all three in your Fantain (Use Code “READ123”) fantasy team for the IRE vs AFG 2nd ODI.
Afghanistan
Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan were an integral part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad at the recent IPL 2019, so they become automatic picks here. Nabi scored 27 and went wicketless but I’m backing him to do better with the bat and would pick him as my vice-captain today. My captain would be the other all-rounder Gulbadin Naib who has been brilliant in recent months.
Even in the 1st ODI, Naib picked up 1/45 and scored 20. If he works on his temperament a little bit, he could be one of the better Afghan cricketers of all-time. Again, rule out the spin option of Mujeeb Rahman on these pitches and instead, pick pacers Aftab Alam and Dawlat Zadran who got 3 wickets each in the last game. If Afghanistan give Hamid Hassan another go, pick him instead of one of these pacers.
IRE vs AFG Betting
Ireland vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI
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— Read Scoops (@ReadScoops) May 19, 2019
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