DUBLIN – Pakistan beat Ireland in the second T20 by seven wickets with 19 balls remaining at Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Sunday.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series, looking for comeback after an embarrassing rout in the first game. Batting first, Ireland scored 193 runs in 20 overs at the loss of 7 wickets. Chasing the target, Pakistan achieved the required number of runs in 16.5 overs at the loss of 3 wickets.
Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman’s 140-run partnership in this match is Pakistan’s highest for the 3rd wicket in T20Is, breaking the record of 105 between Rizwan and Haider Ali. Rizwan scored 75 runs not out off 46 balls and won the Player of the Match title. Zaman scored 78 runs off 40 balls.
It was the only chance for the Babar Azam led side to win T20 series against underdog Ireland after suffering a shocking defeat in the series opener.
Ireland secured their first-ever T20I win against Pakistan thanks to Andy Balbirnie’s impressive 77-run innings, winning by five wickets. This loss is a setback for Pakistan as they prepare for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, with matches against Ireland and England serving as preparation.
Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), arrived in Dublin to boost team morale ahead of the second T20I, holding meetings with the captain and coach upon arrival and planning further interactions with the team. Pakistan is likely to include Mohammad Amir in the playing XI against Ireland, as he missed the first T20I due to visa delays.
Following the series with Ireland, Pakistan will head to England for a four-match series from May 22-30 before heading to the US for the World Cup. Their World Cup campaign begins against the United States on June 6, with a highly anticipated match against India scheduled for June 9 in New York.
Pakistan will begin their World Cup campaign against the United States on June 6 before taking on arch-rivals India in a high-octane clash on June 9 in New York.
Squads
Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir (unavailable for first T20I), Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan
