Afghanistan and Ireland vie for World Cup place

OVERVIEW

Afghanistan v IrelandHarare Sports Club, Harare
CWCQ Super Sixes Match 9
Friday 23 March; 09:30 local, 7:30 GMT

Afghanistan and Ireland face off in the final game of the Super Sixes at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier knowing that the winner will confirm their place at the main event next summer.

If Zimbabwe had beaten UAE in the penultimate Super Sixes game, they would have joined Windies in the top two, making this fixture a dead rubber. However, the hosts' surprise defeat has turned this into a winner-takes-all fixture, with a huge prize on the line.

In the unlikely event of a tie, the door could open for Zimbabwe once again, with the second qualification place being decided on net run rate.

Both Afghanistan and Ireland seem to have got their games in good order after some hiccups along the way.

In their first clash of the Super Sixes against Zimbabwe, Ireland were completely outplayed and lost by 107 runs. However, they bounced back in the second game on the back of an Andrew Balbirnie century, defeating a strong Scotland outfit and getting momentum back on their side.

If momentum does make a difference, Afghanistan will have a lot of confidence going into this game. They had a poor first round, losing three matches and winning one, and just about scraped into the Super Sixes. Their batting has still looked iffy, but the bowlers have been outstanding in ensuring they made it two in two in the Super Sixes.

That said, in the previous game against UAE, Gulbadin Naib (74*) and Najibullah Zadran (63*) were brilliant in taking Afghanistan to a six-wicket win. But the fact that they had been reduced to 54/4 will be on the minds of the Afghans, especially as it followed totals of 194, 195/9, 195/4 and 198/7 after having tallied 255 in the first game of Group B against Scotland.

Their spinners will again hold the key for Afghanistan. Rashid Khan, who took a five-wicket haul in the previous outing, has 13 wickets so far, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman has 13 and Mohammad Nabi 11. Dawlat Zadran, the opening paceman, also looked good against UAE and Asghar Stanikzai, the captain who is back in the team after illness, will back his bowlers to do the job one more time.

Ireland, too, have worries on the batting front, especially with William Porterfield, the captain, slowing down with scores of 7 and 17 in the Super Sixes after a profitable run in Group A. Paul Stirling, Balbirnie, Ed Joyce and the O’Brien brothers – Niall and Kevin – have all been among the runs, though.

Their bowling has been solid too, though it’s a bit too seam-heavy, which might be a concern if the pitch takes spin – particularly given the potency of Afghanistan's twirlers.

Key players **Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan):**Experience always counts for a lot in a big game, and there are not many wiser and calmer heads around than the 33-year-old all-rounder. He is also in excellent form, having scored 252 runs in the tournament so far to go with his 11 wickets. Both in terms of supporting Rashid and Mujeeb and holding the innings together, Nabi can be invaluable.

Andrew Balbirnie (Ireland): The centurion in Ireland's last game, Balbirnie stood up for his team in a moment of crisis. His 146-ball 105 was an excellent innings, and showcased his ability to soak up the pressure and play the big shots responsibly – key elements that will stand Ireland in good stead in this massive encounter.

ConditionsBoth teams are familiar with the conditions at Harare Sports Club, but will be wary of the weather, as the forecast doesn’t look promising. Thunderstorms are expected on Friday and DLS could play a part.

Squad Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Javed Ahmadi, Ihsanullah Janat, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Nasir Jamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan Sharafuddin Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran
Ireland: William Porterfield (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien (wk), Boyd Rankin, James Shannon, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson