BELFAST: Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 71 as Afghanistan claimed a three-wicket victory over Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Club ground in Belfast on Monday to take a 2-0 lead in their One-day International series.

Last week’s opening game in the five-match contest was washed out, and Afghanistan won Friday’s second ODI in Bready by 92 runs.

With this victory, Afghanistan secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup, leaving twice champions West Indies to go through qualifiers for the third successive edition of the 50-overs tournament.

The top eight teams in the One-day International rankings on Sept 30, excluding co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, qualify directly for the event.

Afghanistan’s win ensured they will finish among those teams, joining Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh.

The West Indies are ranked 10th and cannot make up enough ground to qualify directly despite having two ODIs against India left to play before the cut-off date.

Ireland scored 206 in Monday’s third match but three wickets apiece from Rashid Khan (3-44) and A.M. Ghazanfar (3-29) kept them in check after they were put in to bat.

The home team were in deep trouble at 128-8 before Gavin Hoey (36) and Jai Moondra (31) put on 76 for the ninth wicket, but they were all out with 3.3 overs remaining.

Afghanistan started their reply steadily and had reached 53 before opener Ibrahim Zadran fell for 12.

Sediqullah Atal (27) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (22) chipped in with useful runs as Rahmanullah led the way, smashing five sixes and two fours before he was caught by Mark Adair off Hoey.

Ireland had a glimmer of hope when Adair removed Azmatullah Omarzai to leave Afghanistan 176-7, but Rashid’s 37 not out in an impressive all-round display helped the visitors home.

The two sides meet again in Belfast on Wednesday.

Under the new format for 2027, the winners of the qualifier will advance directly to the second stage of the World Cup, while the teams placing second, third and fourth will play in the first round known as the Super Series.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026