Pakistan won the three-match T20I series against Ireland after registering a win in the third and final T20I of the series held in Dublin. Choosing to bowl first after winning the toss Pakistan got off to a good start as Irish opener Ross Adair departed after scoring just 7 runs off 8 balls Ireland lost their first wicket on the score of 15. Having made a good start Pakistan let the game slide as the duo of stand-in captain and former captain Lorcan Tucker and Andrew Balbrinie added 85 runs for the second wicket and got the team over the 100-run mark in 10.5 overs before Balbarnie was dismissed by Abbas Afridi for 35 off just 26 balls including two fours and three sixes.
The Comeback
Having scored 100 runs in the first ten overs Ireland was looking set to post a big score on the board and that’s when the Pakistani bowlers showed their class by stepping up their game when it mattered the most. The fast bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Abbas Afridi, and Mohammed Amir picked up six wickets between them which reduced Ireland from 100/1 at one stage to 164/7 after 18.3 overs. The trio was well supported by spin bowling all-rounder Imad Wasim who picked up the crucial wicket of stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker who scored an attacking half-century 73 runs off 41 balls to be precise which included 13 fours and a maximum.
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The Middle Muddle
Ireland’s old problem came back to haunt them yet again as the team’s middle order failed to make a significant contribution in the middle overs which is considered an important phase of the game as a result Ireland could only manage to post a middling total of 178/7 at the end of 20 overs.
The Chase
Chasing a target of 179 runs to win the match and series Pakistan got off to a poor start as the Man in Green lost opener Saim Ayub in the third over score on the score of 16. The Babar Azam-led side needed a partnership to get back in the game and the duo of captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper batter Muhammad Rizwan did just that by adding 139 runs for the second wicket with Rizwan scoring yet another half-century along with Babar Azam who also scored an attacking half-century.
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The Finish Touches
Having scored 155 runs in 15.5 overs the writing was on the wall. Having said that the Irish bowlers did try their best to get back in the game by dismissing both the set batters in quick succession but the breakthrough came a little too late as Pakistan romped home comfortably by six wickets.
Final Words
This is Pakistan’s first series win against Ireland in T20 internationals which will surely boost the team’s confidence before the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in the USA and the West Indies
