A combination of long-time tormentor Rashid Khan and some brainless batting in Co Tyrone saw Ireland lose to Afghanistan by 92 runs in the first of what is now a four-match one-day international series. 

After Wednesday’s washout, and a damp start to the day that reduced the contest to 47 overs per side, Ireland won the toss and did well to peg the visitors back to 299-8 following a rapid start.

In reply, the Boys in Green had no difficulty in keeping up with the required run-rate but had no answer to Rashid who grabbed two top order wickets and then ran through the tail to finish with 6-34.

It wasn’t the first time the demon leg-spinner has beaten Ireland almost single-handedly, and it probably won’t be the last.

“We had a bit of rust in all three facets,” skipper Paul Stirling said. “There was a chance or two of a runout in the field and we fell away with the bat at the back end, and the ball at the start.

“It was a brilliant opportunity against a top class side with one of the —if not the — best fellas in the world. We were always up on the run-rate and halfway through the second innings we were in with a great chance of winning.”

Afghanistan should have set a more challenging target. They were cruising on 190-2 with 15 overs left but failed to capitalise and looked 20 runs short at the break on the small Bready club ground.

Ireland twice got themselves into the ascendency at 96-1 and 144-3 — with Cade Carmichael making a top score of 62 — but Rashid’s brilliance was given a helping hand by Lorcan Tucker wandering out of his crease and being run out, and a succession of hapless shot selections from the middle order.