Rahmat Shah's Masterclass Seals Afghanistan's 4-0 Sweep of Ireland

Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah scored an unbeaten 143 to drive his side to a six-wicket win over Ireland in the fifth and final one-day international at Stormont, completing a 4-0 series sweep.

Chasing 299 to win, Afghanistan reached 302-4 with seven balls to spare. Rahmat's innings — 133 balls, 13 fours, two sixes — was the backbone of the chase, but he found a potent partner in Sediq Atal. The pair added 201 for the third wicket, an Afghanistan record partnership in ODI cricket. Atal fell two short of his own hundred, dismissed for 98. (BBC Sport)

Ireland had earlier posted what looked like a competitive total. Batting first, they made 298-7 from their 50 overs, with Curtis Campher the standout. He cruised to 96 before falling just short of a century. Harry Tector chipped in with 53. Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan's most effective bowler, returning figures of 3-74. Ireland's Liam McCarthy took 3-47 in the reply but could not stem the run flow.

A one-day international, or ODI, is the 50-overs-per-side format of cricket — longer and more tactical than the frantic T20 game. The five-match series had begun with a washout, meaning the opening fixture was abandoned without a result. Afghanistan then won all four remaining matches to take the series 4-0.

Rahmat's innings was a study in controlled aggression. He arrived at the crease with Afghanistan in early trouble and steadily accelerated through the middle overs, picking gaps and rotating the strike before opening up as the target neared. The partnership with Atal was the decisive passage — 201 runs scored together, Ireland unable to break through until Atal's dismissal in the 44th over.

For Ireland, the series raises searching questions. They posted a strong total in the final match and still lost with overs to spare. Campher's near-century was a bright spot, and McCarthy's three wickets showed bite with the ball. But across the series, Afghanistan proved the more complete side — disciplined with the ball, ruthless in the chase.

Afghanistan's ODI cricket continues to grow in stature. A clean sweep on European soil, anchored by a captain's hundred in the decider, is a serious statement of intent from a side that has been climbing the international ranks for over a decade.