DUBLIN: Ireland has won the first T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan at Clontarf Cricket Club, Dublin, on Friday.
Andy Balbirnie’s played an excellent 77-run knock to chase the challenging 183 runs target on the second last ball after a combined bowling display led Ireland to stun Pakistan in the first T20I.
This was the first time Ireland defeated Pakistan in T20Is as both teams only locked horns once in the shorter format, where the Green Shirts emerged victorious.
Earlier, winning the toss Ireland invited Pakistan to bat first. 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.
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 (WK), 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.
