4th ODI: Afghanistan vs Ireland
We all love an underdog and when one bites back it gives our online betting chances a real shot in the arm.
Ireland roared back in the third ODI, having lost the first two, to set up a great finish to this five-match series. Betting odds are against the Irish winning the fourth, but if they do we have a fantastic climax to look forward to.
And why not? Okay, Ireland, ranked 12th in the ICC ODI listings, is one of only two teams below the tenth ranked hosts but the two-match deficit was a little harsh. Both were won and lost by relatively small margins as Ireland fell 30 and 34 runs short. But the fight back in the third match on Sunday was convincing, as man-of-the-match Paul Stirling inspired a crucial win to end a run of five consecutive defeats and give Irish morale a big lift.
Stirling hit a brilliant 99 in 114 balls and was backed up by the returning Andrew Balbirnie who chased down the target of 265 with his own outstanding 85. It was sweet for Balbirnie having recently recovered from a career-threatening hip injury.
The bowlers played their part too, reducing the hosts to 67 for five, with two wickets each for pacemen Peter Chase and Tim Murtagh, but an impressive rearguard gave Afghanistan’s bowlers plenty to work with.
So there are two more games to play at the Greater Noida Sports Complex, with the first coming up on Wednesday. And if Stirling and Balbirnie take their momentum on, who knows, with top ranking batter Ed Joyce there too, the Irish could take this series all the way.
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