Onus on batsmen as Ireland hope to draw level in final ODI

Overview

Afghanistan v Ireland
5th ODI
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
Tuesday, 10 March; 13.00 hours local time, 7:30am GMT

Both sides have traded punches in the series. Afghanistan won the first ODI by five wickets, before the second game was marred by rain and called off. Ireland then gave the home side a wake-up call by clinching victory in the third ODI. However, Afghanistan hit back in the fourth, completely outplaying the visitors and handing them a 109-run defeat.

Ireland were well-poised to snare the series lead, having vindicated William Porterfield's decision to field by reducing Afghanistan to 81/6 in 17.3 overs.

However, the game took an unexpected turn, as Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan struck half-centuries, lifting their side to 223. Ireland were still fresh off a successful 257-run chase in the third ODI, but Afghanistan's bowlers were more incisive this time around and bowled Ireland out for 114.

Having collapsed meekly, Ireland are in need of a batting revival now. Apart from that one game which they won, Ireland's batting has looked pretty average, with the only highlight of the series so far being Andy Balbirnie's brilliant 145* in the third ODI.

Given the experience they have on their side, Ireland need to stick together as a batting unit and try to build steady partnerships.

Afghanistan, despite the 109-run win, have their own worries. The top-order needs to pull itself together after the meltdown in the previous game, irrespective of the batting depth they may possess. However, the manner in which Nabi and Khan batted to lift them to a match-winning total should be heartening.

Both teams have fared well with the ball so far, and an extension of those efforts should hold them in good stead.

Key Players

**Rashid Khan (Afghanistan):**He is No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC ODI All-rounder Rankings for a reason. Khan brought up his fourth ODI fifty, scoring 52 from 58 balls, featuring six fours and a six. He also returned 2/22, and for his all-round brilliance, he was adjudged Player of the Match. If he performs once again with both bat and ball, it will severely boost Afghanistan's chances of winning the series.

**James Cameron-Dow (Ireland):**The left-arm spinner made his ODI debut in this series, and was the pick of the Ireland bowlers in the previous game, with returns of 3/32. The new entrant can prove to be the difference between the sides with his ability to spin the ball.

Conditions

The weather looks promising, with the temperature expected to hover around 25°C. The pitch in Dehradun is a touch slow, and provided assistance to the spinners in the previous games. However, there is also something in it for the batsmen if they are able to dig in.

Squads

Afghanistan: Asghar Afghan (c), Mohammad Shahzad, Noor Ali Zadran, Javed Ahmadi, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Aftab Alam, Dawlat Zadran, Zahir Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Shapoor Zadran, Sayed Shirzad, Fareed Malik

Ireland: William Porterfield (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, James Cameron-Dow, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, James McCollum, Kevin O'Brien, Stuart Poynter, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker