LAUDERHILL: Pakistan ended their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on a high note, securing a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Ireland in their Group A clash at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida, on Sunday.
Despite being eliminated from the tournament following losses to India and the USA, Pakistan managed to restore some pride with this win. Opting to bowl first, the 2009 champions restricted Ireland to 106 for 9, thanks to a stellar performance by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed 3 for 22.
Chasing a modest target, Pakistan’s batting weaknesses were once again exposed. They stumbled to 62 for six in 11 overs, sparking fears of another collapse. However, skipper Babar Azam’s composed 32 not out, supported by Abbas Afridi’s 17, guided Pakistan to 111 for 7 in 18.5 overs. Shaheen Afridi sealed the victory with two towering sixes in his unbeaten 13 off 5 balls.
Ireland’s pacers, Barry McCarthy (3 for 15), Curtis Campher (2 for 24), and Mark Adair (1 for 24), bowled valiantly but could not secure a win, leaving them winless in the tournament.
Pakistan vs Ireland Match Summary
Opting to bowl, Pakistan quickly put Ireland on the back foot. Shaheen Afridi’s early strikes saw Ireland reeling at 4 for three within the first two overs. Afridi dismissed Andrew Balbirnie (0) and Lorcan Tucker (2) in the opening over, while Mohammad Amir removed Paul Stirling (1) shortly after.
Harry Tector was trapped leg-before by Afridi, leaving Ireland at 15 for 4. George Dockrell provided some resistance but was caught and bowled by Amir, reducing Ireland to 28 for 5 in the powerplay. Curtis Campher’s dismissal by Haris Rauf further deepened Ireland’s woes.
Gareth Delany’s aggressive batting, which included two sixes and a four, briefly revived Ireland, but his dismissal by Imad Wasim ended their hopes of a competitive total. Joshua Little’s 22 not out took Ireland past 100, but they could only muster 106 for 9.
In response, Pakistan opener Saim Ayub made a promising start but was dismissed for 13. Mohammad Rizwan hit three boundaries before falling to McCarthy. The middle order collapsed, with Fakhar Zaman (5), Usman Khan (2), Shadab Khan (0), and Imad Wasim (4) departing cheaply.
Babar Azam’s steady innings, combined with Abbas Afridi’s support, brought Pakistan close to the target. Shaheen Afridi’s late fireworks ensured Pakistan crossed the finish line with seven balls to spare.
Post-Match Reactions
Babar Azam expressed relief at finishing the tournament with a win, acknowledging the team’s need to address their batting issues. “It was important for us to end on a positive note. Our bowlers did a fantastic job, and we need to work on our batting to avoid such collapses in the future,” he said.
Ireland captain Paul Stirling lamented their batting collapse but praised his bowlers for their efforts. “We didn’t put enough runs on the board. Our bowlers fought hard, but it wasn’t enough. We have to learn and improve from this experience,” Stirling remarked.
Score Summary:
Ireland: 106/9 in 20 overs (Shaheen Afridi 3/22, Mohammad Amir 2/16)
Pakistan: 111/7 in 18.5 overs (Babar Azam 32*, Barry McCarthy 3/15)
