Pakistan down Ireland by seven wickets in second T20I to level series

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May 12, 2024
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DUBLIN (Agencies): Pakistan on Sunday inflected a seven-wicket defeat on Ireland in the second T20I to level the three-match series 1-1 at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin. The Men in Green chased down the target in the 17th over on the back of performances by Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman and Azam Khan. Pakistan struggled initially in the chase, losing Saim Ayub (6) and skipper Babar Azam (0). But Rizwan and Fakhar paired up to form a gigantic partnership. Their 140-run partnership is Pakistan’s highest for the 3rd wicket in T20Is, breaking the record of 105 between Rizwan and Haider Ali. Rizwan remained not out on 75 off 46 balls with the help of fours sixes and six while Fakhar hit 78 off 40, powered six fours and as many sixes. Wicketkeeper-batter Azam took on the Ireland bowlers, smacking 30 off 10 which included a four and four maximums. Earlier, Ireland posted 193-7 after being put into bat first by Pakistan, their highest-ever total at the Clontarf Cricket Club. Pakistan opted to field and started well with Shaheen Afridi picking the first two wickets. He dismissed Paul Stirling (16) and Andy Balbirnie (11). But Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker recovered for Ireland with a 62-run partnership. Tector was the best batter for the home side, scoring 51 off 34 balls while Tucker made 32 off 28 balls. Curtis Campher also chipped in with a 13-ball 22 while Gareth Delany slammed a 10-ball 28 cameo and remained not out to post Ireland’s highest-ever total at Clontarf Cricket Club. Shaheen picked three wickets but conceded 49 runs while Mohammad Amir, in his first game of the series, finished with 1-44. Abbas Afridi took two wickets for 33 runs while Naseem Shah picked a wicket for 36 runs. The series finale will be held at the same venue on April 14.

SCOREBOARD

IRELAND INNINGS

Andy Balbirnie c Fakhar b Shaheen 16

Paul Stirling c Amir b Shaheen 11

Lorcan Tucker c Fakhar b Abbas 51

Harry Tector c Shaheen b Abbas 32

Curtis Campher c & b Amir 22

George Dockrell c Azam b Naseem 15

Gareth Delany not out 28

Mark Adair b Shaheen 9

Graham Hume not out 2

Did not bat: Ben White, Craig Young

EXTRAS (LB 3, NB 1, W 3) 7

TOTAL (20 overs) 193-7

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-29 (Paul Stirling, 3.2 ov), 2-34 (Andy Balbirnie, 3.5 ov), 3-96 (Harry Tector, 11.3 ov), 4-137 (Curtis Campher, 15.1 ov), 5-154 (George Dockrell, 16.6 ov), 6-154 (Lorcan Tucker, 17.1 ov), 7-165 (Mark Adair, 18.3 ov)

BOWLING

Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-0-49-3

Mohammad Amir 4-0-44-1

Naseem Shah 4-0-36-1

Abbas Afridi 4-0-33-2

Imad Wasim 3-0-21-0

Saim Ayub 1-0-7-0

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Saim Ayub c Campher b Adair 6

Mohammad Rizwan not out 75

Babar Azam c Tucker b Hume 0

Fakhar Zaman c Delany b White 78