Cricket:Holders Ireland were second best against a rising Afghanistan side who won their Intercontinental Cup encounter by seven wickets at the International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
The result ends Ireland’s unbeaten 18-game, six-year run in the competition after some excellent shot-making and battling by Afghanistan and some equally poor batting by Ireland. Trent Johnson was the notable exception as he notched up 63 not out for Ireland.
Phil Simmons’ side stared the day 39-0 to be 30 runs behind but were all-out for 202, while their opponents easily made their 134 target at the cost of three wickets.
Mohammad Nabi and Dawlat Ahmadzai did the most damage with four and five wickets respectively with the latter recording career best figures of five for 52.
Afghanistan were equally adept with the bat with opener Noor Ali reaching his second half-century of the match before going for 57.
That left Afghanistan needing 34 runs from at least nine overs and the closing action was left to Mohammad Shahzad's (42 not out) to get over the line.
Earlier Ireland's top order went lightly; William Porterfield (14), Gary Wilson (27), Alex Cusack (4), John Mooney (18) and Gary Kidd (0).
Nabi claimed further wickets of Andre Botha (27), Kevin O'Brien (3), Andrew White (4) and last-man Peter Connell (10).
The win leaves Afghanistan top of the table with 43 points after taking a maximum 20 from this match. Ireland remain a lowly sixth on 12 points. Scotland, who take on Kenya in Nairobi tomorrow, are second.
Ireland, four-time winners of the competition, were last defeated by Scotland (eight wickets) in August 2004.
Ireland will look to improve in time for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi next month (February 9-13).