ABU DHABI: A breathless century on his debut from teenage opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz helped Afghanistan to a 16-run win over Ireland in the first ODI at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The 19-year-old, who hit a run-a-ball 127, and some late slogging from Rashid Khan, who smashed 55 (two fours, five sixes) from 30 balls, took Afghanistan to an imposing 287 for nine from their 50 overs after they elected to bat first.

Gurbaz made his first 50 from 38 balls and reached his hundred off 115 deliveries and went on to make 127, which included nine sixes and eight fours, before slogging a long hop from Gareth Delany down the throat of Simi Singh on the square leg boundary.Off-spinner Andy McBrine was the pick of the Irish bowlers, picking up 5-29 from his 10 overs.

But it proved to be too many for the Irish batsmen who struggled from the start. Lorcan Tucker made a battling 83 but they fell 16 runs short of the target.

Afghanistan took 10 points from the match which is the first in the World Cup Super League which serves as part of the ICC 2023 World Cup qualification process.The second ODI in the three-match series takes place at the same venue on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2021