Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s century helps Afghanistan defeat Ireland in the first One-Day International

In the first one-day international of the season, Afghanistan easily defeated Ireland by 35 runs on Thursday in Sharjah thanks to a century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, his sixth one-day international.

Afghanistan, sent to bat, scored 310-5 in their 50 overs, with Gurbaz scoring 121 and Ibrahim Zadran scoring 60 in their opening partnership of 150.

Before Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker scored 173 for the fourth wicket, Ireland had fallen to 34-3. Tector proceeded to score his sixth century in one-day internationals, but Ireland could only manage 275-8 as wickets dropped on the other end.

But the night belonged to Gurbaz, 22, who scored his maiden ODI century in Abu Dhabi in 2021 when making his debut against Ireland.

He got right into it, hitting 117 balls for eight fours and six sixes. Gurbaz is the only man to have more men’s ODI hundreds scored before turning 23 than Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Quentin de Kock.

Before captain Hashmatullah Shahidi helped himself to an undefeated 50 from 33 balls as 95 runs came in the last 10 overs, Mohammad Nabi smashed 40 from 27 balls down the order.

The best bowler for Ireland was Theo van Woerkom, who took 3-55 from his ten overs, including both openers and Gurbaz’s superb arm ball.

As soon as captain Paul Stirling misplayed a ball from Azmatullah Omarzai to the wicketkeeper, Ireland’s reply was in jeopardy.

At the beginning of the eleventh over, Ireland was down 34-3 after he was immediately followed by Andy Balbirnie and Curtis Campher, who were both bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Tector and Tucker came together as a result, giving Ireland genuine chances for an unexpected victory.

Despite surviving a chance when Gulbadin Naib missed a brilliant return catch on 79, Tector was excellent, striking the ball over the covers and negating the spinners.

Despite experiencing some cramps and seeing his partners go at the other end, he managed to reach 100 off 117 balls and reach 138 before being dismissed for a weary shot in the last over.

Tucker also had a good time, reaching his fifty with a huge six off Noor Ahmed that shot through the air and landed on the road outside, much to the amusement of a strolling by onlooker.

With 76 balls remaining, he scored 85 runs, the last one finding the boundary to give Farooqi his third wicket. He would end up with 4-51, while Allah Ghazanfar, a 16-year-old making his debut, got 0-34 from his six overs.

The only other Irish batters to reach double figures were Tector and Tucker, and the innings weakened when Tucker left.

But the result sets up the second game of the three-game series on Saturday.

As part of the preparation for the June World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, the sides will also play three Twenty20 Internationals.

Last week, Ireland emerged victorious in the lone Test match—their first in the game’s longest format.