IRE vs AFG 3rd ODI Live Commentary - Belfast (10 August 2026)

Quicker, on leg, Gavin Hoey flicks it to square leg for a single.

Fired in, on off, Jai Moondra punches it to cover for a single.

Beaten! Quicker, outside off, Gavin Hoey looks to block it but misses.

A googly, on off, Gavin Hoey blocks it to mid on.

FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs for Ireland! Quicker, down the leg side, Gavin Hoey looks to flick it but misses. The keeper fails to collect it as the ball races away to the fence at fine leg.

No run.

1 run.

WIDE! Miles down leg, full in length. Calitz tries to flick but misses. Good grab by Gurbaz behind the stumps.

Serves it full and on the stumps. Ben Calitz lofts it over mid on. Darwish Rasooli runs in off the long on ropes and collects it on the bounce. One run taken.

Loops above the eyeline, around off, Gavin Hoey waits for the ball to arrive and creams it to deep cover for a single.

Short from around the stump, and outside off. Ben hangs back and chops it to the left of the first slip fielder.

OUT! CAUGHT! A very soft dismissal for Calitz and there goes the last recognized batter for Ireland. The in-drifter on a fuller length, around the pads, on a fuller length. Ben Calitz looks to flick but fails to hit it along the ground and chips it flatly towards Rashid Khan at mid-wicket. The Afghan captain is not dropping those, but that's a fine catch as it came at a decent speed towards him. 63/1 becomes 128/8 for Ireland.

 FOUR! A freebie and Moondra is off the mark!

Full on middle, drifting in. Jai lunges and pushes it back to the bowler.

Nice and full, clipped off the pads to mid-wicket.

The length is dragged back, outside off, Mark hangs back and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Short and spinning in on the pads. Ben Calitz rocks back and whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Bowls a googly, on a length, spinning in. Mark Adair nudges it to the right of the mid-wicket fielder for a single.

Dropped short, outside off, Ben Calitz flays it through point for a single.

WIDE! Slides one down leg, short in length. Mark Adair misses to tuck it across. 

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Wicket number 3 for Rashid and his ninth overall in this ODI series. Another googly dished out by Rashid. Lands it full and around the off stump. Mark Adair does read the variation and gets low on a knee to sweep it, but plays the shot before the ball dips on him. Hence, it goes below the inside edge and crashes into the stumps behind. Ireland are 125/7 in 29 overs.

Drops it full in front of middle, coming into the batter. Ben Calitz flicks it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Serves it full on the leg stump, Mark clips it to mid-wicket.

Dishes out a full ball, around off, Adair lunges and taps it to point with soft hands.

Flights it up, full and outside off, Mark Adair smashes it over the inner ring, and one the bounce to Darwish Rasooli at long off. Just a single.

 FOUR BYES! That has beaten everyone! Good length, in the off-stump channel and spinning in. Calitz is beaten by the sharp leg-break, and Gurbaz is deceived to his right as well. The ball races away for four byes towards fine leg.

Turns in from outside off, full in length. Ben smothers the spin.

Bowls from around the stump, does Rashid. On a fuller length, around leg, Ben clips it along the ground through mid on for a single.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Exceptional display of spin bowling from the wizard, Rashid Khan. The Irish batters have looked all at sea once again while dealing with the spin. Dishes out the deceptive googly, and lands it full around off. Harry Tector is drawn forward and looks to drive it straight back but the ball barges through the yawning gap between the bat and pad and rattles the stumps behind. A massive wicket for Afghanistan as Tector perishes. Ireland are 106/6 in 26.2 overs.

Leg break, full on leg, Mark Adair watches the ball closely and nurdles it to deep square leg for a single to get off the mark.

Full on middle, from around the stumps. Ben Calitz carves it towards mid off.

 SIX! OH, HELLO? Where did that come from? Rashid bowls it full and on the off stump, Ben Calitz lets the ball dip and turn before clobbering it over the wide long off fence for a flat six. This is the first six of the match!

Bowls from the wider angle, full on off, angling in. Ben Calitz drives it inside out through covers for a single. 9 runs and Tector's wicket ​​​​​​from this over.

A big appeal for caught behind, but turned down. Full and on middle and leg, the carrom ball that goes the other way. Ben lunges to defend, but the ball lobs off the front pad and Gurbaz runs to his right to gobble it up.

Pushed fuller, sliding in with the arm. Ben defends forward.

Short and on the pads, Calitz tucks it to backward square leg for a single.

Goes deep in the crease and tucks this short ball to the mid-wicket fielder.

Tossed up, very full on middle, Harry Tector crunches it to deep extra cover for a run.

Dropped short, outside off, Calitz backs away and scythes it to deep point for a single.

Conventional leg break, full on off, Tector lunges and blocks it to mid off.

Drags it down, short on middle, a bit quicker. Harry Tector rocks back and punches it to the left of the diving mid-wicket fielder for a single.

Short on leg, spinning in, defended off the back foot to the leg side.

Pushed through, full around off, Ben Calitz caresses it to extra cover.

From around the stump, this is the googly, full and outside off. Ben is sucked on the front foot, looks to drive away, but the ball spins and beats the outside edge.

Pitched full and on off, Ben Calitz drives it to the cover-point region for a single.

Loops it full on the pads, and this is flicked to short mid-wicket.

Pitched full and outside off, Harry Tector shovels it to deep backward point for a single.

From around the wickets. This is full and drifting in, Ben Calitz pushes at it and gets an inside edge. The ball gets squeezed out to the mid-wicket region.

Dropped fuller, spinning away, outside off. Calitz tries to drive inside out to cover but gets an outside edge to the left of the first slip fielder. The deep third fielder mops it up to his right. Two runs taken.

Full on off, drifting in, Ben caresses it to cover. He hesitates but then starts sprinting through to the other end, and gets home safely, completing the single.

 100 UP FOR IRELAND! Full and outside off, Harry drives it along the ground to the cover-point region for a single.

Nice and full, on leg, Harry clips it to the right of the bowler.

Slides it onto the pads, Harry Tector flicks it to the square leg region and they hustle back for the second run.

Flatter and fuller, on off, Tector leans on and taps it to the point region for a single.

Dishes out the googly, full and outside off, Ben plays at it and looks to drive but misses out.

Full again, outside off, Ben Calitz carves it to deep extra cover. The fielder there slides across and saves a couple of runs for his side, just before the ropes.

Spins in from middle, on a length. Calitz tucks it to backward square leg.

Too full, on off, Curtis Campher digs it to cover.

Quicker, on off, Curtis Campher blocks it to mid off.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Looped above the eyeline, full on middle, Campher get on the front foot to drive it straight but seems to have hit it straight and on the bounce to the bowler. Ghazanfar snaffles it on the follow-through to his right. Bump ball? The Afghan players are already celebrating but the decision is sent upstairs to check the legality of the catch. The replay shows that the ball might have gone straight to the bowler without making contact with the ground. 63/1 becomes 89/5 for Ireland after 21/3 overs.

Nice and full, around off, Calitz defends it out safely.

On off and full, blocked out.

WIDE! Sprays it far down leg. Let through by Calitz.

Drifts in from middle, full in length, Ben Calitz taps it across to the leg side.

Short and around off, Curtis hangs back and angles it to backward point.

On a length, a leg break. Campher, on the back foot, is beaten on the outside edge. There's half an appeal for LBW, but it has been turned down.

Full on the pads, clipped to the leg side.

Full in front of the sticks, Curtis leans on a defends this out.

Full and outside off. Campher pushes it to the left of deep cover for a couple of runs.

Full and on off, Curtis Campher knocks it to mid on for a single.

OUT! LBW! AM Ghazanfar strikes. A bit short, on top of off, Lorcan Tucker rocks back and looks to block it but gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball hits him on his pads. A loud appeal and the finger goes up. The height seemed to be an issue, but because Lorcan Tucker was deep in his crease, it would have hit the stumps. Also, there is no DRS for this series, so Lorcan Tucker has to walk back. 

Quicker, on off, Curtis Campher eases it to mid off.

A bit short, on off, Curtis Campher tugs it to mid-wicket for a single.

Fullish, on off, Harry Tector taps it to point.

Fired in, on off, Harry Tector flicks it to mid-wicket.

Too full, on off, Harry Tector digs it back to the bowler.

Quicker, on middle, Cade Carmichael blocks it to mid on.

Flatter, on off, Cade Carmichael knocks it down to long on for a single.

Too full, on off, Harry Tector digs it to cover for a single.

OUT! LBW! Immediate impact from Rashid Khan. Fired in, full and on off, with a hint of turn. Cade Carmichael leans on and looks to block it but gets beaten on the inside edge as the ball hits his pads. A loud celebrappeal from Rashid and the finger goes up straightaway. That looked dead straight in real time. Carmichael couldn't extend his start and walks back. Ireland are 82/3 after 18.4 overs now.

Fullish, on leg, Lorcan Tucker taps it to square leg for a single.

A googly, on middle, Harry Tector looks to block it but gets an inside edge as the ball rolls towards backward square leg. They collect two runs as the throw is a wide one towards the bowling end.

Wide! Sways it down the leg side, Cade Carmichael leaves it alone. Wided.

Quicker, on leg, Cade Carmichael tucks it to mid-wicket.

Fired in, on off, Cade Carmichael pushes it back to the bowler.

Nice and full, on middle, Cade Carmichael stabs it to point.

A bit short, on off, Cade Carmichael pushes it to short cover. 

Full, just outside off, Cade Carmichael taps it to cover for a single.

Tossed up, outside off, Harry Tector drives it through mid off for a brace. With that, Tector gets to 2000 ODI runs, and also becomes the fastest Irish batter to achieve this feat.

Angling in, on off, Cade Carmichael punches it to the bowler.

FOUR! That's a top shot from Cade Carmichael! Yamin Ahmadzai goes full and on off, Cade Carmichael picks it well and knocks it magnificently through mid on for a boundary.

Shaping in, outside off, Cade Carmichael stabs it to short cover.

Good length, on off, Cade Carmichael fends it back to the bowler.

Fullish, on leg, Cade Carmichael flicks it through square leg for a single.

Slightly shorter, outside off, left alone by Harry Tector.

Much fuller, outside off, Cade Carmichael blocks it to point.

Down the leg side, Cade Carmichael looks to flick it but the ball brushes his pads and rolls fine. They collect a leg bye.

Back of a length, on leg, Harry Tector tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Bangs it short, on off, Cade Carmichael fends it to mid on.

Back of a length, outside off, Cade Carmichael slaps it through backward point for a single.

A tad fuller, on off, Harry Tector pushes it to cover.

Beaten! Hits the deck hard, outside off, Cade Carmichael looks to block it but gets beaten.

A tad fuller, on off, Cade Carmichael pushes it to short cover.

Past the edge! Shaping away, just outside off, Cade Carmichael swings hard but misses.

Fullish, outside off, Cade Carmichael drives it through covers for a single.

Slightly shorter, on off, Harry Tector looks to block it but wears it high on his pads. An appeal but turned down. Perhaps the height.

Good length and outside off, Harry Tector shoulders arms at it.

No run.

1 run.

Wide! Sways it down the leg side, Harry Tector looks to flick it but misses.

Shaping away, outside off, Harry Tector shoulders arms at it.

Fullish, on off, Harry Tector pushes it to cover for a quick single.

Short and wide, Cade Carmichael shoulders arms at it.

Shaping in, on off, Cade Carmichael eases it to point for a single.

1 run.

FOUR! A boundary after a long time for Ireland.

OUT! TAKEN! Yamin Ahmadzai gets the big wicket of Paul Stirling. Ireland are 63/2 after 12.3 overs now.

No run.

No run.

No run.

50 comes up for Ireland with this single now.

1 run.

No run.

1 run.

FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs for Ireland.

No run.

A single. Ireland are 58/1 after 12 overs.

1 run.

No run.

No run.

No run.

No run.

Two runs! Ireland are 49/1 after 11 overs now.

Swings away a bit, on a length, on off, Paul Stirling presses back and taps it to cover-point.

No run.

No run.

1 run.

No run.

FOUR! A positive way to end the Powerplay. Ireland are 46/1 and the stand is worth 27 runs between Stirling and Carmichael.

No run.

No run.

A massive appeal for caught behind, but turned down. Gurbaz was celebrating already, but had to tone it down. Looks like there are no reviews available. Back of a length, around off, swinging away. Stirling hangs back and pokes at it, but the ball zips past the outside edge before nestling into the keeper's gloves.

On a length, around off, Paul eases it to the off side.

Nips away from off, on a good length, this is blocked straight back at the bowler.

On a hard length, outside off, Stirling taps it through short third and backward point for a single.

No run.

No run.

1 run.

3 runs.

No run.

No run.

No run.

1 run.

No run.

No run.

Wide!

No run.

FOUR! The captain moves to 11 (14) with that shot and the partnership is now worth 17 between these two.

 FOUR! That's the second boundary for Carmichael. He moves to 9 and looks very confident out there.

No run.

No run.

No run.

No run.

1 run.

OUT! CAUGHT AT FIRST SLIP! Fazalhaq Farooqi draws first blood for the Afghans. Superb catch by Atal. He angles the ball across the right hander, bowling it full and outside the off stump, inviting the drive. Balbirnie falls in the trap as he is drawn forward and pushes at it with hard hands. Ends up getting a big outside edge and the ball goes low to the left of Sediqullah Atal at first slip. He dives and scoops the ball inches above the turf. Ireland are 19/1 after 4.1 overs.

WIDE! Swings down leg, on a fuller length, Cade Carmichael gets outside the line to flick but misses out. There's a muted appeal for a caught behind, but it is not entertained by the umpire.

 FOUR! What a gorgeous-looking stroke to get off the mark! Full in length, shaping in, from off to middle. Cade Carmichael presents straight bat face. And with lovely extension of arms, he creams it gun-barrel straight down the ground, bisecting long on and long off for a boundary.

Full and around off, Cade Carmichael leans on and blocks it solidly.

Full and swinging in, this is flicked off the pads to deep square leg for a single.

No run.

A dot ball to end the over. 6 runs and a wicket from Farooqi's third over. 1/15 in 3 overs for him so far.

Slams it on a length and it straightens up after pitching, Paul Stirling gets squared up while trying to defend, and the ball rolls off the leading edge towards point.

 Was there an edge? Yes, looks like it. GURBAZ DROPS A CHANCE! On a length, tailing into the batter, on middle. Paul Stirling leans half-forward to defend, but gets a faint inside edge through to the keeper's left. Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives and tries to catch that one-handed but shells it as the ball pops out of his mitts. He may have had a better chance had he gone with both hands. A costly miss for Afghanistan.

 FOUR! Up and over! Full and wide outside off, Stirling throws his bat at it and slices it over point for a boundary, beating deep third to his left.

Straightening up from a length, around off, Stirling glides it towards deep third for a single.

Attacks the stumps, angling into the batter. Andy Balbirnie looks to push it straight, but gets a fat inside edge onto the front pad before the ball rolls towards square leg.

Hits the hard length, just outside off. Andy Balbirnie stands tall and dabs it through backward point for an easy single.

Good length, around the off stump with some bounce. Stirling hangs back and bunts it into the off side.

 FIVE WIDES! That has gone all wrong for Farooqi. A big inswinger and it just keeps going down leg, full in length. Paul Stirling misses the flick and the ball stays out of reach of Gurbaz, who puts in a full length dive to his left. The ball runs through to the deep fine leg fence.

 Beauty! Good comeback by the bowler! Full and around off, nipping away. Paul is squared up and is beaten all ends up on the outside edge.

On a good length, on middle, Paul Stirling rocks back and steers it to the mid-wicket region for a single.

Hits the back of a length, across the batter. Balbirnie square cuts it but cannot get it through the gap at backward point.

Slightly fuller and on off. Andy Balbirnie plays off the back foot and knocks it straight back at the bowler.

Tighter line, full and on off, Andy Balbirnie lets the ball shape in and then blocks it down the pitch.

No run.

No run.

No run.

FOUR! Through the gap! Full and swinging into the batter, Andy flicks it through square leg. The ball loses its steam as it approaches the ropes, but it has enough wheels to beat the chase of the fielder from the ring.

Back of a length, on middle and leg. Balbirnie blocks it off the inner half to the square leg region.

Oh, this one zips and nips back in from a fuller length, around the off stump. Andy is drawn forward to drive but the ball beats the inside edge and goes through to the keeper.

Ireland are underway as Balbirnie opens his account with a single.

Another single and Paul Stirling is off the mark as well.

A dot ball.

Another dot.

No run.

A single taken.