Afghanistan take on Ireland in opener of ODI series

KABUL are all poised to take on Ireland in the first one-day international at Stormont today (Monday).

On Wednesday, Afghanistan romped home to an emphatic 81-run victory and thereby clinched the T20 series -0. The last game was washed out on Friday.

Afghanistan have won eight of the 19 ODIs the two sides have played, with Ireland emerging successful in nine games, according to Afghan officials.

In the T20 series, spin wizard Rashid Khan stood out with seven wickets. In the three-match ODI contest in Belfast, the spinner is expected to show his class.

Tim Murtagh and Niall O'Brien have returned to the Irish squad for the ODI, with Josh Little and Stuart Thompson being axed. William Porterfield has returns as captain.

"We'll be more confident in this format," the BBC quoted Porterfield as saying. "And in our own conditions, we'll believe that we can come out on top."

The 2^nd ODI will be played on Wednesday and the third on Friday. Afghanistan scored a major triumph in a winner-take-all encounter at the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe.

Ahead of the opener, Porterfield acknowledged Rashid Khan’s class. "He's ranked up there across all formats … He's a very good bowler. Come the end of the week and if he hasn't had a very successful week, then I think we'll have had a very good week."

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