AFG VS IRE - 1st ODI, Afghanistan v Ireland in UAE, 2024

So, that’s it from our side. Tector and Tucker tried their best but couldn’t get their side over the line. It was still a good fight from the visitors. Afghanistan would be pleased with their efforts. Do join us for the second ODI day after tomorrow from the same venue. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Hashmatullah Shahidi | Afghanistan captain: I’m happy about my team’s performance, they played really well, I thought they were going good so I felt we have to do something special. We know about dew factor that it might be there, there was dew. First ten overs was important and our bowlers bowled very well, especially Fazalhaq. (On Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran) They both are playing good as they are partners in opening, they always play positive, positive thing for the team when they bat together.

Paul Stirling | Ireland captain: We fought well but they played better than us and deserved to win. It was a great effort from Tector and Tucker, they were superb with the bat but unfortunately we couldn't get over the line. We are confident of bouncing back and turning the table at the end of the series.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Player of the Match: Good day for us but Ireland played really well, they competed well. Always feeling excited to bat with Ibrahim. Wicket was not easy at the start, we understand each other and took our time. They played really well, the way we start the bowling was brilliant. The way they came back was fantastic. There was a lot of dew but our bowlers were brilliant. I feel excited with the hundred, I never focus on the records, I always try to play well for my country. Records come by itself when you play well.

Mohammad Nabi: Big partnership in the middle, wicket was strange with not much for the spinners with dew, wet ball, we tried our best and we kept tight and made it tough to score. Gurbaz is a brilliant player, after few bad innings, he showed he's got it at this stage in the ODI's. Tough to bowl with the wet ball, especially the yorkers and he delivered. So far going well, trying my best with my fitness.

23:31 Local Time, 19:31 GMT, 01:01 IST: Afghanistan have put in a clinical performance to get the better of Ireland! After being inserted into bat, Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran played solidly as they stitched 150 runs together to set the tone for Afghanistan. Gurbaz was dropped very early in his innings and he made Ireland pay by scoring a century. Breezy knocks from Nabi and Hashmatullah took the hosts over 300 which was an above par score on a slow and low surface. Ireland in reply stuttered in the beginning. They were reduced to 34/3 on the back of incisive bowling from Farooqi and Azmatullah. But, Tector and Tucker joined hands and batted brilliantly. Both of them went past their fifties and stitched a 173-run stand to infuse life back into the contest. It was Farooqi who removed Tucker and that was the turning point in the game. The death bowling from Afghanistan was spot on and although Tector scored a century, wickets kept falling from the other end and the asking rate spiralled out of control. The game went out of hand and Tector eventually perished after playing a fine knock. Farooqi and Azmatullah were brilliant with their yorker length balls at the death. Stick around for the presentations...

Gulbadin to Hume, 1 run, full ball outside off, Hume throws his bat at it and gets it off the toe-end towards short third. A convincing victory for Afghanistan and they are the deserved winners. Customary handshakes all around

Gulbadin to Theo van Woerkom, leg byes, 1 run, slower one following Theo van Woerkom. He pushes at it and misses. The ball deflects off his pads to covers for a leg bye

Gulbadin to Theo van Woerkom, Theo van Woerkom swings this one to the leg-side and takes a couple

Theo van Woerkom, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Gulbadin to Tector, out Caught by Nabi!! Tector departs after playing a fine knock! A fuller length ball on off, Tector goes for a big hit down the ground but only manages to get it off the toe-end towards long-off. Nabi runs in a bit and takes it safely. A top knock from a quality batter nonetheless. Tector c Nabi b Gulbadin 138(147) [4s-9 6s-3]

Gulbadin to Tector, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Gulbadin to Hume, 1 run, an off-pace full ball outside off, Hume drags the heave through mid-wicket

Gulbadin to Tector, 1 run, a slower one in line of the stumps, swiped to deep backward square leg

Gulbadin Naib [5.0-0-33-0] is back into the attack

Azmatullah to Hume, FOUR, Azmatullah switches to round the wicket and bowls a full-toss outside off. Hume swings hard at it and gets an outside edge past the diving short third fielder and picks up a boundary

Azmatullah to Hume, no run, a skiddy back of a length ball shaping across Hume. He looks to swipe ir across but is beaten by the pace

Azmatullah to Tector, 1 run, a yorker length ball in the channel, Tector digs it out through cover-point

Azmatullah to Hume, 1 run, good length ball on off, swiped through mid-wicket to rotate strike

Azmatullah to Tector, 1 run, full ball outside off, jammed through covers for a single