# Rahmat Shah century: Afghanistan ODI chase 299 vs Ireland 2026

URL: https://technosports.co.in/rahmat-shah-century-299-ireland/  
Published: 2026-08-16  
Updated: 2026-08-16  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

**298 became 302/4 — and the entire Ireland innings flipped on a Rahmat Shah 143* that sealed Afghanistan’s highest successful ODI chase in Belfast on 15 August 2026.** Here’s what it meant for a 4-0 series win, the chase itself, and the partnerships that decided the evening.

![Rahmat Shah](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/rahmaa.jpg)

## Overview: what happened in Belfast, and who finished it

On 15 August 2026, Afghanistan chased **299** against Ireland at **Belfast**. They finished on **302 for 4 in 48.5 overs**, winning by **6 wickets** and completing a **4-0 series whitewash**. Ireland had set **298 for 7 in 50 overs**, with **Curtis Campher 96** and **Harry Tector 53** doing the heavy lifting.  
Afghanistan’s response started poorly. They were **22 for 2 inside the first 6 overs**, so the chase looked like it could go one way quickly. Then Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal took control. They built momentum, removing pressure ball by ball until the target was no longer a question.

## Key Details: the numbers that broke the chase open

The defining turning point was the **third-wicket stand**. Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal put on **201 runs** together, sharing a platform that Ireland couldn’t puncture late. Rahmat struck **143 not out**, and Atal made **98**. Both batters contributed nearly the full chase-winning innings in one partnership.  
Here’s the simplest way to read it: Ireland made a strong enough score—**298/7**—but Afghanistan’s openers couldn’t hold their ground early. Once they were **22/2**, the chase depended on whether someone could bat through the middle overs and deny Ireland repeat wickets. Rahmat’s 143* answered that directly, while Atal’s 98 kept the strike rotating and the scoreboard climbing.

**Verdict: Rahmat Shah’s 143* powered Afghanistan’s 201-run third-wicket stand after they were 22/2.**

| Segment | Afghanistan | Ireland |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Team total | 302/4 (48.5 ov) | 298/7 (50 ov) |
| Chase target | 299 | — |
| Top scorers | Rahmat Shah 143; Sediqullah Atal 98 | Curtis Campher 96; Harry Tector 53 |
| Match result | Won by 6 wickets | — |

## Context: why this chase matters beyond one match

Afghanistan’s chase wasn’t just successful—it was historic. The result **sealed Afghanistan’s highest successful ODI chase**, reframing how quickly the team can tilt a game when conditions and early wickets don’t go their way. The win also completed a **4-0 series win over Ireland**, turning this fifth ODI into a clean statement rather than a lone isolated performance.  
The partnership also rewrote a team benchmark. The **Rahmat Shah–Sediqullah Atal** third-wicket stand of **201** surpassed Afghanistan’s previous best third-wicket partnership of **184** against Ireland in **Abu Dhabi in 2021**. That’s a milestone readers feel in the match narrative: it tells you this wasn’t only “one good innings”—it was a record-building partnership structure.  
On the bowling side, Ireland had moments, and the innings wasn’t a free hit. Liam McCarthy took **3 wickets** for **37** or **47** runs depending on the report, while **Azmatullah Omarzai** is cited with **3 for 74** in some accounts. Even with wicket-taking attempts, the scoreboard couldn’t recover once the 201-run stand started to dictate pace, boundaries, and shot selection—especially with Rahmat holding one end.  
Also, the innings was his **highest ODI score**, and it was the century that “sealed the chase,” not just a late flourish. According to ESPN’s match coverage, the hundred came at the exact time Afghanistan needed it—after the early wobble.

## What’s next: momentum for Afghanistan, questions for Ireland

Afghanistan now has a momentum line that matters for future selection and confidence: a chase that turned around from **22/2** to **302/4** with one batter carrying the innings to **143*** and another providing strong support with **98**. In ODI cricket, that’s a template—stabilise early damage, build a large middle-overs partnership, and finish with controlled aggression.  
Ireland, meanwhile, will have to revisit how to defend an opening phase when the chase requires acceleration. They were able to set **298/7**, but once Rahmat and Sediqullah formed the **201**-run partnership, the pressure converted into a chase plan Afghanistan executed cleanly.  
These are the kinds of innings that become reference points for how franchises and national selectors evaluate temperament—because a century that rescues a chase is different from a century scored in comfort. Afghanistan’s run chase also gives them a psychological edge heading into the next ODI stretch, while Ireland will likely prioritise middle-over matchup clarity.

## Related Articles

- [Afghanistan vs Ireland ODI 2026: Nabi’s 5-for seals 2-0 lead](https://technosports.co.in/afghanistan-vs-ireland-odi-2026/)
- [Padikkal’s maiden century leads India’s dominance](https://technosports.co.in/padikkal-maiden-century-india-dominance/)
- [Zadran, Atal tons power Afghanistan to 3-0 lead — 2026 ODI report](https://technosports.co.in/zadran-atal-afghanistan-lead/)

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## FAQs

### How did Rahmat Shah’s century change Afghanistan’s chase?

After Afghanistan were **22 for 2 in the first 6 overs**, Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal built a **201-run third-wicket stand**. Rahmat’s **143 not out** anchored the recovery and carried Afghanistan to **302/4** and a **6-wicket** win.

### What was Afghanistan’s highest ODI chase achievement in this match?

Afghanistan’s **302/4 in 48.5 overs** after chasing **299** is highlighted as their **highest successful ODI chase**. The record is tied directly to the chase outcome versus Ireland in **Belfast**.

### Who scored what for Ireland in the final ODI target?

Ireland finished