Second ODI abandoned
Hazratullah Zazai was in T20 mode as he clubbed five sixes and fours in a typically belligerent 67 from just 43 balls, as he and Javed Ahmadi added 90 in 15 overs.
Two of those sixes came off the bowling of debutant James Cameron-Dow, who conceded 18 from his first over at senior level.
He and Andy McBrine were drafted in to replace the unfortunate James McCollum and Barry McCarthy, as Ireland decided spin was the way to go, with no fewer than six spin options available to skipper William Porterfield.
Zazai fell to the recalled Andy McBrine (2-43), and Ahmadi fell shortly afterwards to George Dockrell - the first of three victims for the left-arm spinner.
Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi both benefitted from dropped catches to score half centuries in a third wicket stand of 87 in 116 balls, and at 179 for 2 in the 36th over, Ireland were staring down the barrel at a possible 300 target.
However, helped by some rash shots in a frenetic spell, they got themselves back into the game as the Afghans were reeled back, reaching 250 for 7 before the elements intervened with nine balls left of the first innings.