Afghanistan clinched a big ODI victory against Ireland in the 1st ODI of 3-match ODI series at Sharjah on Tuesday night.
Ireland decided to bowl first after winning the toss. At the end of 50 overs, Afghanistan put 238 runs on the board for the loss of 9 wickets (238/9).
In reply, Ireland was bowled out for just 100 runs as Afghanistan won this match by 138 runs.
With this first ODI of the series, Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan – 238/9 in 50 overs (Nasir Jamal 53, Rahmat Shah 50, Boyd Rankin 4/44)
Ireland – 100 in 31.4 overs (William Porterfield 35, Stuart Poynter 27*, Mujeeb Zadran 4/24)
Result – Afghanistan won by 138 runs
Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:
- At the age of only 16 years and 252 days (Date of birth: 28th March 2001), Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Zadran made debut in international cricket. He became the first player born in the 21st century to play an international cricket match.
In overall, Mujeeb Zadran became the 9th youngest player to make an ODI debut.
- Afghanistan batsmen Rashid Khan and Shafiqullah put an important 55 runs partnership for the 8th wicket. It is their third best 8th wicket ODI partnership. Here is the detail list:
Afghanistan’s top 8th wicket ODI partnerships
| Partners’ names | Partnership runs | Opposition | Venue | Date |
| Mirwais Ashraf and Rashid Khan | 66* | Ireland | Belfast | 17th July 2016 |
| Mohammad Nabi and Shafiqullah | 59 | Ireland | Greater Noida | 22nd March 2017 |
| Rashid Khan and Shafiqullah | 55 | Ireland | Sharjah | 5th December 2017 |
- Afghanistan’s debutant off-spinner Mujeeb Zadran bowled superbly in this match as his bowling figure was 10-2-24-4. It is the fourth best bowling figure by an ODI debutant spinner. Here is the detail list:
Top bowling figures by the ODI debutant spinners
| Player (Team) | Bowling figure | Opposition | Venue | Date |
| Taijul Islam (Bangladesh) | 7-2-11-4 | Zimbabwe | Dhaka | 1st December 2014 |
| Stuart MacGill (Australia) | 10-2-19-4 | Pakistan | Sydney | 19th January 2000 |
| Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) | 12-4-21-4 | New Zealand | Birmingham | 11th January 1983 |
| Mujeeb Zadran (Afghanistan) | 10-2-24-4 | Ireland | Sharjah | 5th December 2017 |
Special Notes: It is the best bowling figure by an ODI debutant off-spinner. The previous record holder was Bangladesh off-spinner Sohag Gazi with the bowling figure of 9.5-2-29-4 against West Indies at Khulna on 30th November 2012.
- With his brilliant bowling performance (10-2-24-4) at the age of just 16 years and 252 days, Mujeeb Zadran became the youngest bowler to claim 4 or more wickets in an ODI match. The previous record holder was Bangladesh’s right-arm medium bowler Talha Jubair who had claimed a bowling figure of 10-1-65-4 at the age of 16 years and 297 days (against South Africa at Potchefstroom on 3rd December 2002).
- Ireland was bundled out for just 100 runs in 31.4 overs. It is Ireland’s fifth lowest completed ODI total. Here is the detail list:
Ireland’s lowest completed ODI totals
| Total score (Overs) | Opposition | Venue | Date |
| 77 (27.4) | Sri Lanka | St. George’s | 18th April 2007 |
| 82 (23.4) | Pakistan | Dublin (Malahide) | 18th August 2016 |
| 91 (30) | Australia | Bridgetown | 13th April 2007 |
| 96 (20) | Pakistan | Belfast | 28th May 2011 |
| 100 (31.4) | Afghanistan | Sharjah | 5th December 2017 |
- Afghanistan spinners took total 8 wickets in this match. It is the third time when Afghanistan spinners have taken total 8 wickets in an ODI match, while they never claim more than 8 wickets in an ODI match. Here is the list of those ODI matches where Afghanistan spinners have claimed total 8 wickets in an ODI match.
| Opposition | Venue | Date |
| Zimbabwe | Harare | 19th February 2017 |
| Zimbabwe | Harare | 26th February 2017 |
| Ireland | Sharjah | 5th December 2017 |
- Afghanistan won this match by 138 runs. It is Afghanistan’s largest ODI victory (by runs). Their previous record was winning by 106 runs against Zimbabwe at Harare on 26th February 2017.