2nd T20I: Pakistan beat Ireland by 7 wickets©X (Twitter)
Pakistan defeated Ireland by seven wickets in the second T20I in Dublin on Sunday, setting up a decisive three-match showdown. Ireland got off to a dynamic start when they came into bat, with the hosts scoring 29 runs in the first three overs. But Shaheen Shah Afridi put the brakes on Ireland’s attack, dismissing opening pair Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie in four overs. Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector (32) scored 62 for the third wicket, with the former scoring 51 from 34 deliveries.
Curtis Campfer (22) and George Dockrell (15) led the scoring before Gareth Delaney hit 28 off 10 balls to help the hosts post 193 for 7.
Pakistan were disorganized at the start of the chase with Saim Ayub caught in the first over and captain Babar Azam left for a duck in the second over with a nick behind Graham Hume.
However, Ireland’s hopes of securing a famous series win with a game remaining were buoyed by a stunning 140-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan (missed 75 matches) and Fakhar Zaman (78 matches). Shattered.
Azam Khan added 30 from 10 balls to take Pakistan home in 3.1 unused overs.
Azam said, “I felt relieved because of all the batsmen.”
“We lost a few wickets early on but were able to keep the momentum going. It was cloudy and a little rainy so it was a good decision to bowl first.”
Ireland achieved their first-ever T20 win against Pakistan in the series opener on Friday, winning by five wickets with one ball to spare.
Pakistan will also face Ireland in the group stage of the T20 World Cup to be held in West Indies, USA next month.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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