DUBLIN (Dunya News) – Ireland held the nerves till final over to ensure their win over Pakistan in first game of the three-match T20I series at Castle Avenue Cricket Ground in Irish capital Dublin on Friday.
Opener Andy Balbirnie played a heroic knock of 77 runs while Harry Tector made 36 off 27 and George Dockrell 24 off 12 helped their side clinch five-wicket win over visitors.
They achieved the target of 183 runs on second last ball of the final over as middle order pair held their nerves.
Earlier, the visitors posted 182-run total after they were put to bat first by the hosts. After Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for one runs, opener Saim Ayub and Babar Azam stitched a strong second-wicket partners to help their side post a strong total. Babar amassed 57 off 43 while Ayub made 45 off 29.
Fakhar Zaman was removed for 20 and at this point Pakistan lost its middle order in quick sessions as Azam Khan and Shadab Khan went for duck.
However, Iftikhar Ahmed’s late onslaught helped his side to post a strong total of 182 runs against Ireland.
Pakistan will play the remaining two matches at the same venue on Sunday and Tuesday.
Pakistan and Ireland have faced each other in T20 World Cup in 2009 in which the Green Shirts emerged victorious. Pakistan won the match by 39 runs. They scored 159 runs losing five wickets and restricted Ireland to 120 who lost nine wickets in the bargain. Kamran Akmal was adjudged the player of the match for his 51-ball 57 and two stumpings.
The series marks the first time Ireland will host Pakistan for a T20I series.
Pakistan will travel to England after Ireland mission to play four-match series. The team will play at Headingley on May 22, Birmingham on May 25, Cardiff on May 28 and London’s The Oval on May 30.
Both the teams will head to the United States for the T20I World Cup 2024. Pakistan will launch their campaign against the United States in Dallas on June 6.
Pakistan and Ireland are in the same group in the T20I World Cup 2024 and will face each other in Florida on June 16. Apart from the two sides, India, USA, and Canada are also in the same group, with the top two teams advancing to the second stage.
AZHAR MAHMOOD’S PLAN
Earlier, Pakistan head coach Azhar Mahmood said that their preparations for the T20I World Cup began with the home series against New Zealand and now it’s all about putting the final touches on those preparations.
"We have clarity on our game plans, strategies and combinations. It’s about bringing everything together before we arrive in the United States," he said.
Azhar said that the team has only played Ireland once, hence, they will be a relatively new opponent for Pakistan.
"However, any team in T20 cricket can be dangerous as the match can swing in one over. The three T20Is will provide us with good information about their players and how they approach T20 cricket," added Mahmood.
Squads (likely)
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan.
Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young