Ireland vs Afghanistan Live Score: 1 Over, 2/0 Score

0.5: Azmatullah Omarzai to Paul Stirling, No run, that is punched off the back foot but straight to the fielder.

0.4: Azmatullah Omarzai to Paul Stirling, No run, beaten! Lovely bowling as the batter is defeated all ends up.

0.3: Azmatullah Omarzai to Paul Stirling, No run.

0.3: Azmatullah Omarzai to Paul Stirling, Wide! Beaten! Lovely bowling as the batter is defeated all ends up.

0.2: Azmatullah Omarzai to Andy Balbirnie, 1 run, this time the batter goes back and punches it from the crease for a run.

0.1: Azmatullah Omarzai to Andy Balbirnie, No run.

Let's play - The anthems are done and the Afghans get into a huddle. They disperse and are followed by the two Irish openers - Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie. The first new ball has been handed to Azmatullah Omarzai.

National anthems - The match officials and the players from both sides stand in a line to respect the national anthems of both countries. It will be Afghanistan's first, followed by that of the Irish.

PITCH REPORT - Former Irish cricketer, Ed Joyce, is inspecting the deck. He says that it is a chilly and overcast day, so the first 10-15 overs will be crucial. Mentions that it is the same pitch from the last game, so it is a bit used but should play well. Reckons that it might not be the 650-odd runs scored in the last game, but it should still be good for batting after the first few overs.

The captain of Ireland, PAUL STIRLING, says that had he won the toss, he would have chosen to bat first, so is happy to go out there and try to change the script for the series. On being asked next as to what exactly do they need to do to achieve the change, Stirling says that he emphasized in the previous game as well that this one is a very important game. Adds that the Irish have lost the seies but the players are playing for their country. Further says that there is plenty of optimism and they are building up some momentum. On the team news, Paul informs three changes. First states that Jordan Neill has come directly into the squad as a last minute replacement for Mark Adair who pulled up last night. Goes onto say that Jai Moondra and George Dockrell return to the playing XI.

The skipper of Afghanistan, RAHMAT SHAH, says they will bowl first given the pitch and weather conditions. He then talks about Hashmatullah Shahidi and his 100th ODI, citing that he's been a great servant of Afghanistan cricket. Adds that they want to keep things simple with the ball. Ends by informing that they have three changes with Rashid Khan and a couple of others missing out.

Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah (C), Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem and Ziaur Rahman.

Ireland (Playing XI) - Paul Stirling (C), Andy Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Jordan Neill, Gavin Hoey, Liam McCarthy and Jai Moondra.

TOSS - All in readiness for the toss. Rahmat Shah has called it correctly and AFGHANISTAN WILL BOWL FIRST.

What went wrong for Ireland? The format, one supposes. They had been playing T20 cricket primarily for the last 2 years or so and hence, their sudden return to this format perhaps caught them unawares. This is more or less the same unit which stunned India, but that was a T20I series. In this ODI series, we have seen shades of Irish brilliance, but not for long. Today is an opportunity for the Team In Green as well, to show that they can do well in other formats too. On that note, hello and a warm welcome to the 5th and final ODI between Ireland and Afghanistan in Belfast.

Ticking the checkboxes - 1. Qualifying directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup - Checked. 2. Winning this bilateral series - Checked. 3. Making an impression and statement with bat and ball - Checked. What's left? This has more or less been a near-perfect series for Afghanistan. They came into this bilateral series with plenty of aims and expectations and have nearly fulfilled all of them. Now, only one substitute expectation remains. In such a good run, you would be tempted for a whitewash but now that rain has denied the same, a cleansweep would be the next best option. The Afghans have never cleanswept their opposition in a bilateral series of 4 or more ODIs. Here is that opportunity then.

... MATCH DAY ...

The final match - The five-match ODI series between Ireland and Afghanistan reaches its finale at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. Afghanistan have dominated the series and enter the fifth ODI with a 3–0 lead, having won the second, third and fourth matches after the opening game was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Their latest victory was particularly convincing: Afghanistan posted 343/9, powered by centuries from Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran, before dismissing Ireland for 301 to win by 42 runs. A redeeming opportunity - For Ireland, the final ODI is an opportunity to end a difficult series on a positive note. Andy Balbirnie's century and Curtis Campher's aggressive 84 in the fourth ODI showed that Ireland's batting has the ability to challenge Afghanistan, but the home side will need a more complete performance with both bat and ball. However, Ireland’s attack leaked 343 in the previous encounter. Pacer Mark Adair and spinner Gavin Hoey will need tighter opening and middle-overs spells to check the Afghan run-rate. Looking for a sweep - Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look to complete a 4–0 series triumph. Their spin attack has been a major factor throughout the series, with Rashid Khan producing a six-wicket haul in the second ODI and another three wickets in the fourth. Having already secured the series, Afghanistan could give bench options like Fazalhaq Farooqi or Nangeyalia Kharote a run in the series finale. The conditions - Stormont typically provides true bounce and aids stroke play once batters get their eye in. Overcast conditions often offer early lateral movement for seamers, making the initial 10 overs crucial. Both teams have preferred chasing when conditions offer moisture early on, though Afghanistan's imposing 343 in the 4th ODI demonstrated the merits of putting runs on the board. Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, recent first) - IRE - LLLLW | AFG - WWWLL. Predictions?Afghanistan enter the final ODI as clear favourites. Their bowling attack has consistently applied pressure, and their batting has shown greater composure in key moments. Ireland will hope that home conditions and a nothing-to-lose approach can inspire a stronger performance, but they will need a complete display to halt Afghanistan’s momentum. Who are you backing for the win?