Afghanistan Complete 4-0 ODI Series Sweep of Ireland

Afghanistan completed a dominant 4-0 sweep of their ODI series against Ireland, sealing the whitewash with a five-wicket win in the fifth and final match at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast.

Chasing Ireland's total built around a Harry Tector half-century, Afghanistan were rocked early as Ireland's McCarthy removed both openers cheaply inside the first six overs, dragging the scoring rate down below three an over. The innings was rebuilt through a marathon 201-run partnership between captain Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal, who anchored the chase before Atal fell for 98 attempting to accelerate.

Shah continued unbeaten, finishing the match on 143 off 133 balls to guide his side home, with Azmatullah Omarzai chipping in with a brisk 24 late in the chase before departing in the 47th over.

The result extends a commanding tour for Afghanistan, who had already sealed the series with a 42-run win in the fourth match courtesy of centuries from Atal and Ibrahim Zadran. Ireland, playing their first ODI series in over 15 months under a new head coach, could not find enough with either bat or ball across the five matches to trouble the visitors, leaving captain Paul Stirling to admit his side had been "thoroughly outplayed" over the series.