Kathmandu— Rashid Khan delivered a masterclass in leg-spin to secure a 92-run victory for Afghanistan over Ireland in the second match of a five-match ODI series at Bready Cricket Club on Friday. Khan's six-wicket haul triggered a dramatic collapse in the Irish chase, allowing Afghanistan to take a 1-0 lead in the series after the opening match was abandoned due to rain.

Khan Triggers Irish Collapse

Chasing a target of 300, Ireland struggled to maintain momentum and were eventually bowled out for 207 in a match reduced to 47 overs per side due to rain. The Irish side lost seven wickets for just 63 runs during their innings.

Rashid Khan, widely regarded as one of the premier leg-spinners in modern cricket, finished with figures of 6-34. This performance marked his third career six-wicket haul in One Day International cricket, falling just short of his career-best 7-18 against the West Indies in 2017.

Key Dismissals and Turning Points

Khan's impact began early in the innings when he dismissed Andy Balbirnie, ending a 72-run partnership between Balbirnie and Cade Carmichael. He followed this by dismissing Harry Tector in the very next over.

The match shifted decisively when Ireland was left needing 156 runs from 137 balls with seven wickets remaining. A freak dismissal saw Lorcan Tucker run out by Sediqullah Atal at point following an unsuccessful lbw appeal by Mohammed Saleem, accelerating the Irish descent.

Afghanistan's Strong Batting Foundation

Afghanistan's substantial total of 299-8 was anchored by a commanding innings from opener Ibrahim Zadran, who top-scored with 84 runs.

This strong batting performance provided the necessary cushion for the Afghan bowlers to dominate the second half of the match at the Northern Irish village of Magheramason.

The five-match ODI series continues in Belfast on Monday.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.