With Afghanistan holding a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series, Ireland enter the 4th ODI at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast under pressure to respond and salvage pride on home turf. Following an abandoned series opener, Afghanistan demonstrated complete authority with a comfortable 92-run win in the second match and followed it up with a hard-fought three-wicket victory in the third.
The visiting side has been backed by dynamic performances at the top of the order from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, alongside a versatile bowling lineup anchored by Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Allah Ghazanfar. Meanwhile, Paul Stirling’s Irish side has produced individual sparks—notably through Mark Adair and Gavin Hoey with the ball—but struggles with consistency against spin in the middle overs have held them back.With Afghanistan currently controlling the tempo of the tour, Ireland must refine their execution with the bat to challenge the visitors and break their losing streak.
IRE vs AFG, 4th ODI: Match Details
- Date and Time: August 12, 3:15 PM IST / 9:45 AM GMT / 10:45 AM Local
- Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast
IRE vs AFG Head-to-Head Record in ODIs
Matches Played: 35 | Ireland Won: 13 | Afghanistan Won: 20 | No Result: 2
Civil Service Cricket Club Pitch Report
The surface at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont traditionally offers a balanced contest between bat and ball, with local weather conditions heavily dictating early play. Fast bowlers can expect a fair amount of swing and seam movement off the pitch during the opening powerplay, making initial application crucial for top-order batters. As the innings unfolds, the surface tends to level out, allowing batters to score more freely once they adjust to the pace and true bounce. However, as the pitch dries out under match conditions, spinners will gradually come into play, offering useful grip and turn during the middle overs. Captains winning the toss often lean toward bowling first to make the most of the early overhead assistance and pitch moisture before chasing down a target.
Squads
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Benjamin Calitz, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Jai Moondra, Gavin Hoey, Cade Carmichael, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough
Afghanistan: Rahmat Shah (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Ikram Alikhil
Also READ: Rashid Khan’s six-wicket haul powers Afghanistan to a dominant win over Ireland in the second ODI
IRE vs AFG, 4th ODI, Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- IRE wins the toss and bowls first
- AFG’s powerplay score: 35-40
- AFG’s total score: 240-260
Case 2:
- AFG wins the toss and bowls first
- IRE’s powerplay score: 40-50
- IRE’s total score: 260-280
Match Result: Team bowling first to win the contest.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.
