With the series triumph on the line, Ireland will play Afghanistan in the third and the final ODI on Friday, August 31, 2018, at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Dublin.
Live updates:
AFG 53/2 (10.3 Ovs)
IRE 124 (36.1 Ovs)
The match is scheduled to start at 9:45 AM GMT, 2:15 PM AFT. The three-match ODI series is tied at 1-1.
Afghanistan drew first blood by winning the first ODI by 29 runs, while Ireland clinched the second ODI by 3 wickets to level the series. The result of the second game has only made the series more interesting by putting brakes on Afghanistan's unbeaten tour of Ireland.
Join us in Belfast for THE DECIDER: @Irelandcricket v @ACBofficials
— Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) August 30, 2018
Ticket info: https://t.co/4pJwggHSCz
If you can't make it:
📺Watch via BBC Red Button service (UK only)
📲Watch via livestream: https://t.co/gdRDLsDRdr
🎙️Listen via BBC Sport NI: https://t.co/QmctV00ZWs pic.twitter.com/R30BRjzvfd
Going into the third game, the stakes will be pretty high as Afghanistan would eye a historic series win, while Ireland would want to give something to the cricket fans in the region to cheer about.
Ireland's new ball attack crucial
Ireland's bowling with the new ball was the difference between the two sides in the second ODI. Come to the last game, Ireland would feel they got out of jail somehow, and now they would be playing for the series.
A series victory against Afghanistan will be a massive boost for the side which has had an ordinary year so far. The hosts are unlikely to make any changes to their XI.
Afghanistan's batting a concern
Afghanistan bowled well in the previous game, but their batting against the new ball was poor. The visitors had a golden opportunity to seal the series, which they failed to do.
Afghanistan's spin trio was again in the game but didn't manage to get the side over the line. A series win would mean a world of good to their confidence with the Asia Cup coming next month. Afghanistan isn't expected to make any change to their line-up.
The weather forecast for Dublin suggests a windy and overcast morning on Friday.
This will help the bowlers to get some swing early on from the pitch. The team batting first will surely struggle against the moving ball and the pitch is expected to play well as the day moves along. It should be noted that the nature of pitch in the first two games was slightly slower than expected, and that thing is not likely to change.
Read: India vs England 4th Test live cricket streaming on Sony Six at 3 PM IST on Thursday
Also read: Cricket Live Score: Afghanistan vs Ireland 2nd ODI, Dublin
