Ireland Clinches Historic Victory Against Pakistan, Setting Sights on T20 World Cup
Former Ireland skipper, Andrew Balbirnie, led the way to a memorable victory with a remarkable 77-run innings. This match marked the first T20I encounter between Ireland and Pakistan in fifteen years, the last one being in the 2009 Men’s T20 World Cup.
Despite losing two crucial wickets during the Powerplay, Ireland, who were chasing a target of 183, managed to bounce back. Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker were dismissed for 8(5) and 4(7) in the second and fifth over, respectively.
The third-wicket partnership between Balbirnie and Harry Tector was a game-changer. They added 77 runs off 52 balls, bringing the equation down to 79 runs needed from 43 balls.
Imad Wasim’s dismissal of Tector for 36 off 27 balls in the 13th over posed a brief challenge. However, Balbirnie, along with George Dockrell, turned the tide, hitting a series of boundaries against Shadab Khan and scoring 23 runs in the over.
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With 40 runs required from the last four overs, the game reached a nail-biting climax. Even though Dockrell was dismissed in the 17th over, the hosts managed to maintain the required run rate, scoring 10 runs in the over.
Naseem Shah conceded 11 runs in the 18th over, leaving Ireland needing 19 runs from the last 12 balls. Shaheen Afridi’s dismissal of Balbirnie in the penultimate over brought Pakistan back into the game, but only momentarily.
Curtis Campher emerged as the hero for Ireland, scoring the required 11 runs in the final over, including two boundaries, and securing victory with one ball to spare.
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In the first innings, Ireland asked Pakistan to bat first. Pakistan had a slow start, scoring 38 runs in the Powerplay and losing the key wicket of Mohammad Rizwan.
Babar Azam and Saim Ayub built a solid partnership of 85 runs off 57 balls, setting the stage for a big score. Ayub fell five runs short of his half-century, dismissed by Gareth Delany.
Babar Azam reached his fifty off 39 deliveries, but his dismissal in the 15th over triggered a collapse, with Azam Khan and Shadab Khan departing for ducks in quick succession.
Iftikhar Ahmed’s blistering cameo of 37 runs off 15 balls, including three sixes and as many fours, propelled Pakistan to a competitive total of 182/6 in their 20 overs, with support from Shaheen who added 14 runs in 8 balls.
Both teams are set to compete in Group A of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. They will face each other in the tournament on 16 June, Sunday, in Florida.
Group A of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 also includes co-hosts USA, India, as well as Canada, who are making their first appearance at the event, along with Pakistan and Ireland.
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