The second T20 match: Pakistan Vs Ireland, on May 12 at Clontarf Cricket Club was nothing short of a cricketing spectacle. Both teams showcased their batting prowess, but it was Pakistan who emerged victorious, winning by 7 wickets with 19 balls to spare. Here’s a detailed look at how the game unfolded.
Ireland’s Innings: A Solid Start
Ireland, batting first, set a challenging total of 193/7 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings got off to a brisk start with Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling opening the batting. However, Pakistan’s bowlers struck early. Paul Stirling, known for his explosive batting, was the first to fall, scoring 11 runs off 7 balls before being dismissed by Shaheen Afridi. Andrew Balbirnie followed soon after, managing 16 runs off 14 balls, also falling to Afridi.
The middle order stabilized the innings with notable contributions. Lorcan Tucker, the wicketkeeper-batsman, played a crucial knock, scoring 51 runs off 34 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes. His aggressive approach kept the scoreboard ticking and put pressure on the Pakistani bowlers. Harry Tector supported well with 32 runs off 28 balls, maintaining a steady run rate.
Curtis Campher added a quick 22 runs off 13 balls, showcasing his ability to find the boundary. However, the star of the lower order was Gareth Delany, who hammered 28 runs off just 10 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes, at a striking rate of 280.00. His late assault propelled Ireland to a formidable total.
Pakistan’s Bowling Effort
Pakistan’s bowlers had a mixed day. Shaheen Afridi was expensive, conceding 49 runs in his 4 overs, but he took 3 vital wickets. His ability to strike at crucial moments helped Pakistan contain the Irish batsmen. Mohammad Amir also contributed, taking 1 wicket for 44 runs in his 4 overs. Abbas Afridi impressed with his economical bowling, giving away 33 runs and taking 2 wickets in his 4 overs. Naseem Shah, though not as economical, managed to take a wicket and control the flow of runs in the middle overs.
Pakistan’s Chase: A Commanding Performance
Chasing 194, Pakistan needed a solid start, but they lost Saim Ayub early, who scored 6 runs off 3 balls. This early setback could have put pressure on the chasing side, but Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman ensured there were no further hiccups.
Mohammad Rizwan was the anchor of the innings, scoring an unbeaten 75 runs off 46 balls. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, featuring 6 fours and 4 sixes. Rizwan’s ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries at regular intervals kept Pakistan’s chase on track.
Fakhar Zaman, on the other hand, played the aggressor’s role perfectly. He scored 78 runs off 40 balls, with 6 fours and 6 sixes, at a striking rate of 195.00. His partnership with Rizwan was the turning point of the match. The duo put on a substantial partnership that dismantled the Irish bowling attack.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain, had a rare failure, falling for a duck. However, Azam Khan’s quickfire 30 runs off 10 balls ensured that there were no further setbacks. His innings included 1 four and 4 sixes, striking at 300.00, which took Pakistan over the line comfortably.
Ireland’s Bowling Struggles
Ireland’s bowlers struggled to contain the Pakistani batsmen. Mark Adair, despite taking a wicket, conceded 21 runs in his 1.5 overs. Graham Hume and Curtis Campher, though economical, could not provide the breakthroughs needed at crucial junctures. Campher, who took the wicket of Saim Ayub, finished with figures of 4-0-49-1, indicating how challenging it was to bowl against an in-form Pakistani batting lineup.
Conclusion: A Dominant Performance
In the end, Pakistan chased down the target with 19 balls to spare, finishing at 195/3. The victory highlighted their batting depth and ability to chase big totals under pressure. Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman were the standout performers with the bat, while Shaheen Afridi’s early strikes were pivotal in restricting Ireland to a manageable total.
