With the series already won, Afghanistan chose to rest a few players, with Samiullah Shenwari, Karim Janet, Farid Malik and Mujeeb ur-Rahman dropping out in favour of Najeeb Tarakai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Sayed Shirzad and Zia ur-Rehmen. Ireland, who won the toss and decided to bowl first, chose to recall Stuart Thompson for Lorcan Tucker.
Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani looked to give their side the same sort of blistering start that they had enjoyed the previous day, but, when they had put on 46, Ghani was lbw to Boyd Rankin for 13. Then, later that same over, Rankin gave Ireland the wicket that they really wanted, having Zazai caught by Paul Stirling for 31.
Tarakai was the next man to fall, caught by Andrew Balbirnie off George Dockrell for 17, before Ashraf Afghan and Mohammad Nabi add 40 for the 4th wicket. Afghan was then caught by Thompson or 20, Shane Getkate the bowler this time, before Nabi combined in a stand of 36 with Najbullah Zadran. Dockrell ran out Zadran for 12 but, by this time, Nabi was starting to get into his rhythm, and the boundaries started to flow. He went on to make 81 off 36 balls including 7 sixes and 6 fours before was caught by Balbirnie, Peter Chase the bowler.
Afghanistan passed the 200-mark, but Rankin claimed a third wicket, having Shafiqullah caught for 12, before Rashid Khan and Ashraf added a further 8 before the host’s innings closed on 210 – 7.
Ireland looked to get off to a good start themselves, but lost Stirling in the third over caught by Afghan off the bowling of Rahman for 10. However, Kevin O’Brien and Balbirnie shared a stand of 96 for the second wicket to give them hope, before Rahman broke the partnership by having Balbirnie bowled for 47. Tw balls later, Thompson was run out by Zadran as the Irish momentum was checked. O’Brien added a further 24 for the 4th wicket with Dockrell, but, having struck 3 sixes and 5 fours, he was caught behind off Rashid as the momentum was checked.
Rashid then took a hat-trick, having Dockrell caught by Nabi for 18, Getkate stumped, and then Simi Singh lbw. That brought an effective end to the contest, although Stuart Poynter did score 10 not out. Rashid got a 5th wicket to finish with 5 for 27, as Ireland finished their innings on 178 – 8.
Mohammad Nabi was named man of the match.