Afghanistan will be taking on Ireland for the fifth and final ODI of this series on Sunday. Afghanistan won the fourth ODI by huge 109 runs, after bowling Ireland out for just 114 to take a 2-1 lead in series. After a defeat in the third ODI, the Afghan side responded well in the last match, where they took a chance by making four changes to their side. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan were the star performers of the last match were both scored 64 and 52 respectively which lifted the side from 131/7 to 223. Aftab Alam finally got a chance to bowl and right away ripped through the Irish bating by claiming four wickets in his first game in the series.
After winning the third ODI, Ireland lost their last match by 109 runs. As usual, there has not been any impressive performance shown by Irish batsmen throughout the series which led for the loss. Ireland have been playing an unchanged XI for the last three matches. A small hope is alive if they manage to pull a win in fifth ODI, so that the series can end in a draw by which they can get some confidence for the world cup preparation.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Stuart Poynter (8 credits)
With Mohammad Shahzad being dropped in last match due to the lack of form, we have no other option left than to pick Poynter for this match. We couldn't see any wicket-keeper scoring big in this ODI series
Afghanistan will be taking on Ireland for the fifth and final ODI of this series on Sunday. Afghanistan won the fourth ODI by huge 109 runs, after bowling Ireland out for just 114 to take a 2-1 lead in series. After a defeat in the third ODI, the Afghan side responded well in the last match, where they took a chance by making four changes to their side. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan were the star performers of the last match were both scored 64 and 52 respectively which lifted the side from 131/7 to 223. Aftab Alam finally got a chance to bowl and right away ripped through the Irish bating by claiming four wickets in his first game in the series.
After winning the third ODI, Ireland lost their last match by 109 runs. As usual, there has not been any impressive performance shown by Irish batsmen throughout the series which led for the loss. Ireland have been playing an unchanged XI for the last three matches. A small hope is alive if they manage to pull a win in fifth ODI, so that the series can end in a draw by which they can get some confidence for the world cup preparation.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Stuart Poynter (8 credits)
With Mohammad Shahzad being dropped in last match due to the lack of form, we have no other option left than to pick Poynter for this match. We couldn't see any wicket-keeper scoring big in this ODI series our utmost priority is to go with safe pick for this match Poynter looks promising. Though he has played some good knock in T20 series, but in ODI series his runs scoring were dried but, still a good middle-order player for Irish side.
Batsman: Asghar Afghan (8.5 credits)
The Afghan skipper has a decent series so far and have played some excellent knocks in last two matches where he scored back to back two half centuries 54 and 75 respectively. With that knocks now he is the second leading run-scorer of this ODI series with 144 runs in his bag at an average of 48.
All-rounder: George Dockrell (9 credits)
All-rounder Dockrell has been in excellent for Ireland with bat and ball, he scored 37, 54 and 8 runs in last three matches. He now features leading wicket-takers list with six wickets in four matches and he is just one wicket behind his team-mate Boyd Rankin who has seven and leading the chart.
Bowler: Rashid Khan (9.5 credits)
Khan has been in prime form over the last couple of years becoming on the key players for Afghanistan. Khan smashed 52 runs in last match and claimed two wickets in his six over and gave away just 22 runs. Still Irish batsmen are struggling to score against him and couldn't find any solution to defend him and still definitely a player to watch out for this final match.
Captain: Rashid Khan
Vice-captain: Asghar Afghan
Predicted Playing XI:
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan (c), Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Ireland: William Porterfield (c), Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, Simi Singh, Kevin O'Brien, George Dockrell, Stuart Poynter (wk), Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, James Cameron-Dow, Boyd Rankin
