ISLAMABAD: Despite some good knocks by Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, followed by some power hitting by Iftikhar and Shaheen at the end, Irish bowlers managed to restrict Pakistan to 182 for the loss of 6 wickets in the first T20 contest being played at Dublin on Friday. Ireland bowlers managed to take wickets with interval and also performed some class fielding in the ground.
Earlier winning the toss Ireland invited Pakistan to bat first. The Irish got the first wicket very early when the inform Muhammad Rizwan was run-out on just 1 run in the second over. After his dismissal the skipper Babar Azam joined Saim Ayub where both batters consolidated the inning.
Both, Babar and Saim contributed 85 runs partnership for the side before Delany dismissed Saim on 45. Saim was replaced by Fakhar. Meanwhile Babar completed his half century. However Irish bowlers were managed to take wickets with interval.
In the 15th over Young got rid of Babar who scored 57 runs including 8 boundaries and a six. In the same over Young also dismissed the fresh batter Azam Khan on a duck. At the stage Pakistan were 116 for 4 in 14.5 overs.
The next was Shadab Khan who was also run-out on zero in the next over. Shadab was replaced by Iftikhar Ahmad. In the 18th over Fakhar Zaman was also dismissed during an attempt to accelerate the score. He added 20 runs to the total. Later Iftikhar Ahmad and Shaheen Afridi added some valuable runs to the total. Iftikhar score firing 27 runs on 15 balls. In 20 overs Pakistan scored 182 for the loss of 6 wickets.
From Ireland Craig Young got two wickets while Gareth Delany and Mark Adair grabbed one wicket each.
Pakistan Squad:
Saim Ayub, Muhammad Rizwan (wc), Babar Azam(c), Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmad, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi
Ireland Squad:
Paul Stirling (c), Andy Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker †, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young and Ben White.
Following is the schedule of Pakistan’s match with Ireland, England and the ICC World Cup.
Ireland Series
Today: First T20I at Clontarf
May 12: Second T20I at Clontarf
May 14: Third T20I at Clontarf
After the Ireland series, the green shirts will depart for England to play four matches starting on May 22.
Tour of England
May 22: First T20I at Leeds
May 25: Second T20I at Birmingham
May 28: Third T20I at Cardiff
May 30: Fourth T20I at The Oval
Later the Team would depart for USA to take part in the ICC t20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s Initial Games in T20 World Cup 2024
June 6: Pakistan vs USA, Dallas
June 9: Pakistan vs India, New York
June 11: Pakistan vs Canada, New York
June 16: Pakistan vs Ireland, Lauderhill
