ADELAIDE (Web Desk) – Pakistan, on Sunday, qualified for the quarterfinals at the ongoing cricket world cup 2015 after defeating Ireland by 7 wickets in Adelaide oval stadium.
Pakistani openers gave a stable start to the team when openers made a partnership of 120 runs. Ahmad Shehzad was ousted at 63 runs off 71 balls whereas Sarfraz Ahmad completed his first century of ODI career. He scored 101 runs off 124 balls and the skipper Misbah ul Haq also helped the team to chase the target with 39 runs.
Irish bowlers Cusack and Thompson each got one wicket.
Ireland, while batting first, raised a target of 238 runs against Pakistan at Adelaide oval, when William Porterfield smashed 107 runs off 131 balls.
Ireland lost the first wicket in 4th over when Stirling was declared out at 3 runs but later on Porterfield took the charge and completed his excellent 100 runs at 124 balls. Joyce, O’ Brien, Balbirnie, Thompson, J O’ brien, Mooney, Dockrell and Wilson scored 11, 12, 18,12,8,13,11 and 29 runs respectively.
Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz was the most successful bowler who picked 3 wickets for 54 runs. Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali dismissed two batsman each.
Earlier Ireland chose to bat first, after winning the toss in the last pool B match in the ongoing cricket world cup 2015.
Younis Khan was replaced by Haris Sohail whereas Pakistan’s top pacer Muhammad Irfan, reportedly injured, did not play the match also. Ehsan Adil was included in his stead.
Ireland: 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Ed Joyce, 4 Niall O’Brien, 5 Andy Balbirnie, 6 Gary Wilson (wk), 7 Kevin O’Brien, 8 Stuart Thompson, 9 John Mooney, 10 George Dockrell, 11 Alex Cusack.
Pakistan: 1 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 2 Ahmed Shehzad 3 Haris Sohail, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Sohaib Maqsood, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Sohail Khan, 10 Rahat Ali, 11 Ehsan Adil.
