It's been a tough tour for Ireland Wolves, but they kept alive their hopes of reaching the tri-series final with an emphatic six-wickets win over Afghanistan A.

Early wickets for Tom Mayes (3-43) and Liam McCarthy (2-29) had Ireland on top, but a defiant 75 from Sediqullah Atal recued the Afghans and they were in the ascendancy at 150 for 4.

The game turned with Atal's dismissal, the first of four wickets for Gavin Hoey in a Man-of-the-Match effort by the skipper.

The last six wickets fell for just 22 runs, and a modest target of 172 offered Ireland the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents in the table.

A blistering opening stand of 98 in 12.5 overs all but settled the contest, as Instonians opener Cade Carmichael top-scored with an unbeaten 75 (11 fours), well supported by Merrion's Stephen Doheny who hit a 36-ball 46 (5 fours, 1 six).

Despite a few quick wickets, including the Topping brothers for single figures, Gary Wilson's charges continued to attack, exemplified by a quickfire cameo of 19 from Ross Adair that included two maximums.

In the end, victory before the halfway stage was more than enough for them to boost their NRR, which means that they will be in Friday's final if Sri Lanka manage to beat Afghanistan on Wednesday.