Ibrahim Zadran’s 107 and Sediqullah Atal’s career-best 143 didn’t just put Afghanistan ahead—they changed how Ireland could even think about chasing in Belfast. In the 4th ODI at the Civil Service Cricket Club on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, Afghanistan turned a slipping start into a commanding finish, then bowled out Ireland for 301 to seal a 3-0 series lead.
Zadran atal afghanistan: The moment the chase tilted
Ireland’s plan would’ve been simple: keep Afghanistan’s boundaries in singles and build pressure around the middle overs. Here’s the thing: Zadran and Atal didn’t allow that rhythm to form.
Afghanistan had been in a bit of trouble after slipping to 247/1, but the innings recovered through a partnership that felt like it belonged in the best phases of Afghanistan ODI batting. Zadran struck 107 off 118 balls (11 fours, 1 six), while Atal produced the kind of innings that makes selectors smile—143 off 120 balls (17 fours, 4 sixes).
Zadran Atal Afghanistan:
Afghanistan’s defining control wasn’t just their runs—it was the way the duo shared overs and kept the innings moving after the 247/1 wobble.
Stay tuned for more on zadran and atal.
What happened: Afghanistan posts 343/9, Ireland falls short
Worth noting: Afghanistan didn’t merely “bat well”; they set a total that forced Ireland into constant risk. Afghanistan posted 343/9 in 50 overs after being steadied post 247/1, and then the bowling attack closed the door with Ireland all out for 301.
Zadran and Atal shared a 231-run partnership, which dominated the middle overs and set the platform for that late acceleration. This was the part of the innings that made the chase feel uphill even before the last quarter began.
The partnership that broke the contest open
This has been brewing for years in terms of Afghanistan’s capacity to find match-winning partnerships, but on the day it was specific: it was Zadran + Atal, in that order.
Zadran’s 107 shows the balance—fours to the gaps, and a controlled tempo that let Atal keep raising the ceiling. Atal, meanwhile, turned the innings into a statement with 143 off 120, the career-best coming with 17 fours and 4 sixes. Put simply, they didn’t just survive the overs; they owned them.
How Afghanistan recovered after 247/1
Afghanistan’s recovery after 247/1 was the turning point in the innings, according to the match report coverage (ESPN’s match reporting referenced by its ODI coverage stream). Once the early disruption was absorbed, the duo stitched together a partnership that stretched Ireland’s fielding and forced bowlers to attack rather than contain.
When partnerships of 231 runs happen in the middle overs, the run-rate doesn’t just rise—it becomes predictable in one direction. That predictability is exactly what Afghanistan needed once they decided to set a chase-proof target.
Ireland’s fight: Balbirnie and Campher kept it alive
Ireland weren’t helpless for the full contest. Andrew Balbirnie provided the key resistance with a ton, giving the chase a backbone when Afghanistan’s total was still reachable. Curtis Campher also added a late effort to make sure the final scoreboard didn’t flatter the home side too much.
That said, Ireland ultimately lost despite the match being a home fixture in Belfast, with Afghanistan defending the total well enough to deliver the 42-run win and an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
So what next for Afghanistan and Ireland?
Afghanistan’s message in this series is clear: even when the early overs wobble, they can still build a chase-proof platform with top-order dominance and middle-overs authority. For Ireland, the lesson is sharper—Balbirnie’s ton wasn’t enough, and late contributions from Campher can’t compensate when 231 runs are gifted in the center.
Here’s the takeaway: Afghanistan didn’t just win—they sealed control, partnership by partnership, and made the chase a mathematical burden from the middle overs onward.
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FAQs
What did Zadran score in the 4th ODI?
Zadran scored 107 off 118 balls with 11 fours and 1 six in Afghanistan’s 4th ODI against Ireland in Belfast.
What did Atal score and why was it important?
Atal made a career-best 143 off 120 balls with 17 fours and 4 sixes—his innings anchored the middle-overs surge that carried Afghanistan to 343/9.
How big was the partnership between Zadran and Atal?
They shared a 231-run partnership, which dominated the middle overs and effectively decided the match’s momentum.
What was the series result after this ODI?
Afghanistan won by 42 runs and sealed an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
What were Afghanistan’s and Ireland’s final totals?
Afghanistan finished on 343/9 in 50 overs, and Ireland were bowled out for 301.
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