Second ODI, Bready

Afghanistan 299-8 (47 overs): Zadran 84 (97); Adair 2-40

Ireland 207 all out (33.4 overs): Carmichael 62 (66); Rashid 6-34

Afghanistan win by 92 runs

Scorecard

Rashid Khan took six wickets as Afghanistan beat Ireland by 92 runs in Gary Wilson’s first one-day international as head coach.

After Wednesday’s opener if the five-game series was washed out without a ball bowled, a wet outfield at Bready led to a 90-minute delay and a reduction of three overs per side.

Afghanistan quickly took advantage of the short boundaries at the County Tyrone ground, with a succession of batters looking set even if it was only Ibrahim Zadran who went on to pass fifty.

His 84 helped Afghanistan post 299-8 ,but Ireland could only muster 207 as Wilson’s reign started with defeat.

Cade Carmichael was Ireland’s top scorer with 62, but Rashid stole the show with six wickets.

The tourists have won seven ODIs against Ireland in succession, a run that stretches back to 2019.

As has been the case throughout this home summer, Ireland’s bowling options were limited through injuries.

Josh Little, Matt Hollard, Craig Young and Barry McCarthy were all enforced absentees, with Wilson’s first selection showing four specialist bowlers including international debutant Byron McDonough.

There was plenty of interest to see how Jai Moondra, breakout star of June’s T20 series victory over India, would fare in his one-day bow with the India-born 29-year-old’s two wickets coming at a cost of 78 runs.

Among that total were nine fours and three sixes with Afghanistan plundering 32 boundaries across their innings.

Seamer Mark Adair was the pick of the bunch for Ireland, even if 14 off his final over inflated his figures to 2-40.

After he signed off from The Hundred duty with figures of 5-17 for MI London on Sunday, Ireland were left wishing Rashid had seen out the season on the franchise circuit.

Back with Afghanistan, the number one-ranked ODI bowler in the world accounted for the early wickets of Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector, while Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed captain Paul Stirling and Carmichael.

Rashid also removed both Curtis Campher and Ben Calitz as he finished with 6-34 from 7.4 overs..

It was a disappointing start for new head coach Wilson, but Ireland have the opportunity to bounce back in the third match of the series at Stormont on Monday.

The fixtures are preparation for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, which are set to begin next year.