NEW DELHI: Former champions Pakistan managed to restore some pride with a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Ireland in their final and inconsequential Group A game of the
T20 World Cup
in Lauderhill on Sunday.
Pakistan, who were knocked out of the tournament after losses to India and the USA, restricted Ireland to 106 for 9 after opting to bowl first.
Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling attack with impressive figures of 3 for 22.
Chasing a modest total, Pakistan's batting vulnerabilities were once again on display. They struggled to 62 for six in just 11 overs, bringing fears of another collapse. However, skipper
Babar Azam
(32 not out) and Abbas Afridi (17) put together a crucial 33-run partnership, leading Pakistan to 111 for 7 in 18.5 overs.
As It Happened
Shaheen sealed the win with two towering sixes, scoring 13 not out off just five balls.
Ireland's pacers Barry McCarthy (3 for 15), Curtis Campher (2 for 24), and Mark Adair (1 for 24) gave it their all, but Pakistan held firm, leaving Ireland winless in their campaign.
Pakistan's chase began well with opener Saim Ayub hitting a six and two fours before getting dismissed by keeper Lorcan Tucker off Mark Adair. Mohammad
Rizwan
added three boundaries but was sent packing by McCarthy as the score read 39 for 2.
In quick succession, Pakistan lost four more wickets—Fakhar Zaman (5), Usman Khan (2), Shadab Khan (0), and
Imad Wasim
(4), plunging them into trouble.
Babar stood resolute at one end while Abbas Afridi contributed a crucial 17 off 21 balls.
Shaheen Afridi
then finished the match with two powerful sixes.
Earlier, Ireland had a disastrous start with Afridi and Amir wreaking havoc, reducing them to 4 for three in just the second over.
Shaheen struck twice in his opening over, dismissing Andrew Balbirnie (0) and Tucker (2). Amir then had Ireland captain Paul Stirling (1) caught behind, putting the top order in shambles.
Harry Tector survived a caught-behind appeal but was trapped LBW by Afridi with a fuller delivery that hit his back leg, leaving Ireland at 15 for 4 in three overs.
George Dockrell hit two boundaries to ease some pressure but was soon out to a caught and bowled by Amir, who caught him off-guard with a slower ball. By the end of the powerplay, half of the Irish side had returned to the pavilion.
Haris Rauf added to Ireland's woes by dismissing Campher, who attempted a pull shot but only managed a top-edge that was caught by Ayub.
Ireland's Delany showed some resistance by hitting Rauf for a six in the 9th over. He then hammered spinner Shadab Khan for another six over long-on and followed it up with a boundary after Rauf missed a catch at the boundary line.
Abbas Afridi also faced Delany's aggression, as Delany smashed him for a six over deep square leg.
Imad Wasim was introduced into the attack and managed to get the dangerous Delany out with a spinning delivery. This broke the 44-run stand and reduced Ireland to 76 for 7.
Points Table | Schedule
Joshua Little, batting at number 10, scored an unbeaten 22 to help Ireland cross the 100-run mark, but it was a case of too little, too late.
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