Ireland vs Afghanistan Live Score: Match Preview, Scorecard Updates & Highlights

The international cricket calendar heats up as Ireland hosts Afghanistan in a high-stakes five-match One Day International (ODI) series in August 2026. Played across Bready Cricket Club and the historic Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast, this series represents a crucial battle for ICC ODI ranking points and a stern test of tactical adaptability for both sides.

From blistering centuries by opening batters to spin-bowling masterclasses led by world-class slow bowlers, the 2026 bilateral series has delivered high-octane action. This guide breaks down the full match summaries, detailed scorecards, head-to-head statistics, key player performances, live streaming channels, and complete fixture schedules.

Ireland vs Afghanistan Live Score & 4th ODI Match Summary

The 4th ODI at Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast showcased one of the highest-scoring encounters in the rivalry's history. Afghanistan set a commanding foundation before Ireland launched a courageous run chase.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              4th ODI Match Snapshot (Belfast)            │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Afghanistan: 343/9 (50.0 Overs)                         │
│  Sediqullah Atal 143 (120), Ibrahim Zadran 107 (118)    │
│  Byron McDonough 3/84 (10), Gavin Hoey 2/71 (10)        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Ireland: 213/4 (39.5 Overs - In Progress / Chasing)    │
│  Andrew Balbirnie 109 (118), Harry Tector 34 (50)       │
│  Azmatullah Omarzai 1/36 (8), Rashid Khan 1/37 (8)      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Tracking the Ireland vs Afghanistan Live Score during this encounter revealed a masterclass in top-order partnership building followed by a disciplined response under pressure.

Detailed Match Scorecard: 4th ODI (Belfast, August 12, 2026)

Afghanistan 1st Innings Batting Scorecard

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Rahmanullah Gurbaz	c Tucker b McCarthy	12	10	2	0	120.00
Ibrahim Zadran	c Campher b McDonough	107	118	11	1	90.68
Sediqullah Atal	c Balbirnie b Adair	143	120	17	4	119.17
Rahmat Shah	c & b Hoey	2	4	0	0	50.00
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)	c Stirling b Hoey	7	8	0	0	87.50
Darwish Rasooli	b McDonough	24	14	1	2	171.43
Azmatullah Omarzai	c Carmichael b Adair	15	12	0	2	125.00
Rashid Khan	b McDonough	11	10	0	1	110.00
Allah Ghazanfar	Not Out	0	2	0	0	0.00
Ziaur Rahman	Run Out (Balbirnie)	0	0	0	0	0.00
Extras	(b 4, lb 8, w 10, nb 0)	22
Total	9 Wickets (50.0 Overs)	343				6.86 RR

Ireland Bowling Analysis

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Mark Adair	10.0	0	60	2	6.00
Liam McCarthy	10.0	0	69	1	6.90
Byron McDonough	10.0	0	84	3	8.40
Curtis Campher	8.0	0	45	0	5.63
Gavin Hoey	10.0	0	71	2	7.10
Harry Tector	2.0	0	12	0	6.00

Ireland 2nd Innings Batting Scorecard

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Paul Stirling (C)	c Gurbaz b Ahmadzai	27	25	3	2	108.00
Andrew Balbirnie	c Atal b Ghazanfar	109	118	9	3	92.37
Cade Carmichael	lbw b Omarzai	5	6	1	0	83.33
Harry Tector	c Shahidi b Rashid Khan	34	50	3	0	68.00
Lorcan Tucker (WK)	b Rashid Khan	9	15	0	1	60.00
Curtis Campher	Not Out	24	25	1	2	96.00
Ben Calitz	Yet to Bat	-	-	-	-	-
Mark Adair	Yet to Bat	-	-	-	-	-
Extras	(lb 2, w 3)	5
Total Progress	4 Wickets (39.5 Overs)	213				5.35 RR

Afghanistan Bowling Analysis

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Yamin Ahmadzai	8.0	0	47	1	5.88
Azmatullah Omarzai	8.0	2	36	1	4.50
Rashid Khan	8.0	1	37	1	4.63
Allah Ghazanfar	8.0	0	45	1	5.63
Ziaur Rahman	6.5	0	41	0	6.00
Sediqullah Atal	1.0	0	5	0	5.00

2026 ODI Series Results & Progress

The five-match ODI series between Ireland and Afghanistan in August 2026 has witnessed tense tactical shifts across both venues in Northern Ireland:

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│               Ireland vs Afghanistan 2026 Series Tracker               │
├─────────────┬─────────────────────┬───────────────────┬────────────────┤
│ Match       │ Venue               │ Date              │ Result         │
├─────────────┼─────────────────────┼───────────────────┼────────────────┤
│ 1st ODI     │ Bready, Magheramason│ August 5, 2026    │ Abandoned      │
│ 2nd ODI     │ Bready, Magheramason│ August 7, 2026    │ AFG won by 92  │
│ 3rd ODI     │ Stormont, Belfast   │ August 10, 2026   │ AFG won by 3W  │
│ 4th ODI     │ Stormont, Belfast   │ August 12, 2026   │ Live           │
│ 5th ODI     │ Stormont, Belfast   │ August 15, 2026   │ Scheduled      │
└─────────────┴─────────────────────┴───────────────────┴────────────────┘

Match-by-Match Breakdown

• 1st ODI (Bready - August 5, 2026): Persistent morning rain and damp outfield conditions forced match officials to abandon the opening match without a ball being bowled.

  
  

• 2nd ODI (Bready - August 7, 2026): Afghanistan dominated from the start. Batting first in a reduced 47-over match, Afghanistan posted 299/8 behind Ibrahim Zadran's 84. In response, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan dismantled Ireland's batting lineup with a match-winning 6-wicket haul, dismissing Ireland for 207 in 33.4 overs to seal a 92-run victory.

  
  

• 3rd ODI (Stormont - August 10, 2026): Ireland batted first and reached 206 all out in 46.3 overs. Afghanistan chased down the target with 3 wickets in hand (207/7 in 44.5 overs), led by calm lower-order contributions and a Player of the Match performance from Rashid Khan.

  
  

Head-to-Head Record: Ireland vs Afghanistan in ODI Cricket

Ireland and Afghanistan share a deeply competitive rivalry that expanded as both nations earned ICC Full Membership status together in 2017. Their battles across neutral venues in the UAE, India, and home conditions in Ireland remain balanced.

Overall Head-to-Head ODI Metrics

• Total Matches Played: 34

  
  

• Afghanistan Wins: 20

  
  

• Ireland Wins: 13

  
  

• No Result / Abandoned: 2

  
  

• Tied Matches: 0

  
  

• Highest Team Score: Afghanistan 343/9 (Belfast, 2026) | Ireland 304/6 (Greater Noida, 2017)

  
  

• Lowest Team Score: Ireland 100 (Sharjah, 2024) | Afghanistan 138 (Belfast, 2019)

  
  

Afghanistan Wins: [████████████████████] 20
Ireland Wins:     [█████████████]       13
No Result:        [██]                   2

In One Day Internationals, Afghanistan holds a statistical edge built primarily on their elite spin bowling contingent. However, Ireland has recorded notable victories at home, utilizing seam movement and disciplined top-order partnerships.

Key Standout Performers in the 2026 Series

1. Sediqullah Atal (Afghanistan)

The dynamic left-handed opening batter delivered an outstanding performance in the 4th ODI at Stormont, smashing 143 runs off just 120 balls with 17 boundaries and 4 clearance sixes. His ability to accelerate during the middle overs against pace and spin set up Afghanistan's towering total of 343.

2. Andrew Balbirnie (Ireland)

Veteran top-order batter Andrew Balbirnie demonstrated composure against Afghanistan's spin attack in the 4th ODI. Scoring a gritty 109 off 118 deliveries, Balbirnie anchored Ireland's run chase, bringing up his 9th ODI century.

3. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Afghanistan's skipper and premier leg-spinner remains the deciding factor in bilateral encounters. Claiming back-to-back Player of the Match awards in the 2nd and 3rd ODIs, Rashid's tight economy rates (under 4.70 runs per over) continue to restrict run scoring during the middle overs.

4. Byron McDonough & Mark Adair (Ireland)

Ireland's seam movement pair has consistently broken early partnerships. Young bowler Byron McDonough picked up key wickets during critical death-overs phases, including a 3-wicket haul in the 4th ODI.

Venue Breakdown: Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast

Situated in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Stormont Cricket Ground is known for providing balanced conditions between bat and ball.

• Pitch Tendencies: The surface offers bounce and movement for seamers during the opening 10 overs under overcast morning conditions. As the pitch dries out under afternoon sunlight, it flattens into a good batting track while offering turn for wrist-spinners.

  
  

• Average First Innings Score: 245

  
  

• Chasing Record: Teams batting second have won approximately 52% of ODI matches hosted at Stormont, reflecting steady pitch behavior throughout 50 overs.

  
  

How to Watch Ireland vs Afghanistan Live in 2026

Cricket enthusiasts worldwide can follow live ball-by-ball coverage, scorecards, and high-definition streams through official broadcasting networks:

• India & South Asia: Live digital streaming is available exclusively on the FanCode app and website.

  
  

• United Kingdom & Ireland: Broadcast coverage is available on TNT Sports alongside official commentary streams provided by Cricket Ireland Digital.

  
  

• Afghanistan: Live telecast is distributed via RTA Sport (Radio Television Afghanistan).

  
  

• Rest of the World / Global: Streamed live on ICC.tv in select territories.

  
  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where can I check the official Ireland vs Afghanistan Live Score during the 2026 series?

You can track the Ireland vs Afghanistan Live Score on platforms like FanCode, NDTV Sports, ESPNcricinfo, and the official Cricket Ireland match center. These platforms provide real-time ball-by-ball commentary, updated scorecards, and worm graphs.

Who holds the overall head-to-head advantage between Ireland and Afghanistan in ODIs?

Afghanistan holds the head-to-head advantage over Ireland in ODI cricket with 20 wins out of 34 completed matches, while Ireland has recorded 13 victories alongside 2 abandoned games.

Who scored a century in the 4th ODI between Ireland and Afghanistan in August 2026?

In the 4th ODI played at Stormont on August 12, 2026, Sediqullah Atal (143) and Ibrahim Zadran (107) scored centuries for Afghanistan, while Andrew Balbirnie (109) notched a century for Ireland.

Where is the final 5th ODI of the 2026 series being played?

The 5th and final ODI of the 2026 series is scheduled to be played at Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast on Saturday, August 15, 2026, starting at 10:45 AM local time (3:15 PM IST).

Official Links and Resources

Stay connected with real-time updates, video highlights, and detailed match analysis via official channels:

• FanCode Match Streaming: fancode.com

  
  

• Cricket Ireland Official Center: cricketireland.ie

  
  

• International Cricket Council (ICC): icc-cricket.com