Sport
Gurbaz century helps Afghanistan beat Ireland in first ODI
Afghanistan beat Ireland by 35 runs in their opening one-day international at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz posted his sixth one-day international century as Afghanistan eased to a 35-run win over Ireland.
Put into bat, Afghanistan posted 310-5 in their 50 overs with Ibrahim Zadran making 60 in an opening partnership of 150 with Gurbaz who made 121.
Ireland slipped to 34-3 before Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker added 173 for the fourth wicket. Tector went on to make 138, his fifth ODI hundred, but as wickets fell at the other end, Ireland could only reach 275-8.
The night belonged to the 22-year-old Gurbaz, however, whose first ODI century came on debut against Ireland in Abu Dhabi in 2021.
He settled in quickly, striking eight fours and six sixes from his 117 balls. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Quentin de Kock have scored more men’s ODI hundreds before turning 23 than Gurbaz.
Down the order Mohammad Nabi clubbed 40 from 27 balls before skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi helped himself to an unbeaten 50 from 33 balls as 95 runs coming in the final 10 overs.
Theo van Woerkom was the pick of the Irish bowlers taking 3-55 from his 10 overs, including both openers, a lovely arm ball accounting for Gurbaz.
Ireland’s reply was quickly in trouble as captain Paul Stirling feathered a ball from Azmatullah Omarzai to the wicketkeeper.
He was quickly followed by Andy Balbirnie and Curtis Campher who were both bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi to leave Ireland on 34-3 at the start of the eleventh over.
That brought together Tector and Tucker who gave Ireland real hopes of a surprise win.
Tector was outstanding, lacing the ball through the covers and nullifying the spinners although he survived a chance on 79 when Gulbadin Naib dropped a sharp return catch.
His 100 came from 117 balls and, in spite of feeling a bit of cramp and seeing his partners depart at the other end, continued on to 138 before a tired shot in the last over saw his end.
Tucker also enjoyed himself, going to his 50 with a mighty six off Noor Ahmed which flew out of the ground and landed in the road outside, much to the bemusement of a passing pedestrian.
His 85 came off 76 balls, the last of which found the edge to give Farooqi his third wicket. He would finish with 4-51 while 16-year-old debutant Allah Ghazanfar took 0-34 from his six overs.
Tector and Tucker were the only Irish batsmen to reach double figures and once Tucker was gone the innings subsided.
The second ODI will take place at the same venue on Saturday.
The teams will also play three T20Is as part of the build-up for the World Cup in the West Indies and USA which starts in June.
Ireland won the one-off Test last week, their first ever in the longest format of the game.
Afghanistan’s national cricket team defeated Ireland by three wickets on Monday in the third ODI of the five-match series in Belfast.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Ireland were bowled out for 206 runs in 46.3 overs, setting Afghanistan a target of 207 runs.
Rashid Khan and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar claimed three wickets each for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s batters then produced a solid performance in the second innings, chasing down the target for the loss of seven wickets in 44.5 overs.
Afghanistan had also won the second match by 92 runs.
The fourth match between the two teams will be played on Wednesday, August 12, in Belfast, Ireland.
Fans can watch the fourth match live and exclusively in Afghanistan on Ariana Television.
Sorkh Poshan Khawafi are leading the Afghanistan Champions League U17 standings after week six, having collected 15 points from six matches.
According to the latest standings released by the Afghanistan Football Federation, Sorkh Poshan Khawafi have won five of their six matches and suffered one defeat. They have scored 22 goals and conceded just two, giving them a +20 goal difference.
Sarsabz Yashlar sit second with 14 points, following four wins and two draws, while Aino Mina are third, also on 14 points but with an inferior goal difference.
Arman FC are fourth with 12 points, followed by Khurasan Faryab with 10 points and Toofan Herat with eight.
In the lower half of the table, Ettifaq Khanzadah have six points, Abu Muslim FC have five, while Jawanan Perozi and Istiqlal Kabul are yet to earn a point after six matches.
Istiqlal Kabul have conceded 35 goals, the most in the competition so far, while Sorkh Poshan Khawafi have the tournament’s strongest attack with 22 goals.
The Afghanistan Champions League U17 is being contested by 10 teams and is being held at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul.
Abasin Defenders produced a dominant bowling performance to defeat Kabul Zalmi in the second match of the Kabul Premier League on Saturday, August 8, at the Ayoubi Cricket Ground in Kabul.
Kabul Zalmi won the toss and elected to bat first, but their innings quickly unravelled as Abasin Defenders’ bowlers struck regularly.
Kabul Zalmi were bowled out for 63 in 7.2 overs, leaving Abasin Defenders with a modest target to chase.
Sediqullah Pacha was the standout performer for Abasin Defenders, claiming the Player of the Match award for his match-winning bowling performance.
Abasin Defenders chased down the target comfortably to secure a convincing victory and get their Kabul Premier League campaign off to a winning start.
The result followed the opening match of the tournament earlier on Saturday, when Pamir Stars defeated Shamshad Eagles by 116 runs.
The Kabul Premier League features six teams — Pamir Stars, Shamshad Eagles, Kabul Zalmi, Speenghar Warriors, Abasin Defenders and Band-e-Amir — competing in the 2026 tournament.
All matches are being broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television, allowing cricket fans across Afghanistan to follow the competition.
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