(Dunya News) – Pakistan defeated Ireland by seven wickets to win the second T20I to level the ongoing three-match series 1-1 at Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Sunday.
Pakistan chased down 194-run target in the 17th over. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan scored 78 and 75 runs, respectively.
Rizwan’s 46-ball knock included four sixes and six fours. Fakhar took 40 balls for his brilliant innings which contained six sixes and six fours. Azam Khan remained not out at 30 off 10 balls, which included four sixes and a four.
Earlier, Ireland piled up 194 runs for the loss of seven wickets, thanks to a brilliant innings by Lorcan Tucker who scored 51 runs while Harry Tector made 32.
Shaheen Afridi was expensive for his three wickets as Irish batsmen thrashed him for 49 runs, while Abbas Afridi took two wickets conceding 33 runs in four overs.
Both teams made one change each. For Ireland; Barry McCarthy replaced Graham Hume, while for Pakistan, experienced pacer Mohammad Amir returned to the playing XI, replacing Shadab Khan.
Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi asked the national players to fight till the last ball ahead of the second match of a three-match T20 series against Ireland.
He expresses these views while speaking to players in Dublin. Detailed consultations on future strategy were conducted during the two-hour meeting.
Naqvi boosted the morale of the players. He stated that no one was accepting the defeat in the first match against Ireland.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Andrew Bilbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Craig Young