Ireland Stun Pakistan in a Last-Over Thriller (1st T20I Highlights)
The first T20I between Ireland and Pakistan, played on May 10th, 2024, turned out to be a nail-biting encounter that ended in a historic win for the hosts. Here's a detailed breakdown of the action:
Ireland's Triumphant Chase
Chasing a target of 183 runs set by Pakistan, Ireland got off to a shaky start, losing opener Paul Stirling cheaply to Naseem Shah. Shaheen Afridi, the other Pakistani pace weapon, was also economical in his initial spells. However, the introduction of Abbas Afridi in the powerplay backfired as he dismissed the in-form Babar Azam on the very first ball.
Despite the early setbacks, Harry Tector (36) and Andy Balbirnie (77) steadied the Irish ship. They stitched together a crucial 77-run partnership for the third wicket, laying the foundation for the chase. Even after Tector's dismissal, George Dockrell (22*) and Curtis Campher (42*) chipped in with valuable cameos, keeping Ireland in the hunt.
Here is Pkaistan's ScoreCard:-
Here is Ireland's ScoreCard:-
The drama unfolded in the final overs. With 40 runs required from the last four overs, Ireland faced a stiff challenge, especially with Pakistan's potent bowling attack. The equation kept fluctuating, with Abbas conceding boundaries after starting overs well, and Shaheen delivering yorkers to bring Ireland back under pressure.
A dropped chance by Shadab Khan in the 18th over offered a lifeline to Balbirnie, who continued to anchor the chase. However, his departure in the penultimate over by Shaheen Afridi left Ireland needing 19 runs from the final six balls.
Curtis Campher stepped up to the occasion with an audacious reverse-ramp shot off the first ball of the final over, leaving 11 runs to get. He scrambled for a lucky four off a miscued shot and then snuck a leg bye to seal a dramatic victory for Ireland with just a ball to spare.
Pakistan's Bating Highlights
Earlier, after being put in to bat, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 182 runs. Babar Azam (57) and Saim Ayub (45) provided a solid platform with an 85-run partnership for the second wicket. However, Ireland's spinners, particularly Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy, kept things tight in the powerplay.
Iftikhar Ahmed (38*) provided a late flourish with some lusty hitting in the final overs, while Shaheen Afridi's quickfire cameo (12*) ensured Pakistan reached a decent total. However, their bowling attack, despite initial promise, couldn't defend the target in the face of Ireland's spirited chase.
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A Memorable Victory for Ireland
This win marks a significant moment for Irish cricket. It's their first victory over Pakistan in the T20 format and sets the stage for an exciting three-match series. Both teams will be eager to bounce back in the second T20I, scheduled for May 12th.
