PAK VS IRE MATCH 36

Right then that's it from the final game of Group A and it is India and USA that advance through it. Pakistan ends the tournament on a winning note while Ireland goes home winless. The action continues from the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup with Bangladesh set to play Nepal in a key game of Group D at the Arnos Vale Ground, Arnos Vale, St Vincent on 17th June 2024 at 5 AM IST (11.30 PM GMT, Previous day). You can always join us an hour early for the build-up. Until then cheers and stay safe.

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan says that they finished well but feels that after taking early wickets, they didn't capitalize and even with the bat they didn't finish quite well and had to depend on tailenders. Adds that with the bowl they were good and there were a few mistakes with the bat in a few games and that hurt them. On him batting at number 3, he says that if the team needs him to open or bat at number 3, he will do whatever the team needs. Adds that they have a bit of a break and then a series at home which they will be eager to do well in and ends by saying that there have been positives in the tournament but as a team, they didn't play well.

The losing skipper of Ireland, Paul Stirling is up for a quick chat. He says they played well in patches after not starting well and closing the batting innings well to back that up with a bowling performance as such it give a lot of boost to the side. Adds that they were far from playing their best cricket and that's the reason why they are out of the tournament. Also adds that it's been a couple of weeks full of difficulty but they'll look to take positives and bounce back soon.

Shaheen Afridi is the Player of the Match for his stellar bowling and a crucial couple of sixes at the end as well. He starts by saying that the wicket supported the new ball and they looked to hit the good areas. Adds that every bowler is different and generally prefers to bowl fuller. Mentions that they haven't played good cricket which is demanded of them and they have to improve and get better. Ends by saying that the crowd always supports them and thanks them for sticking around even in times of difficulty.

Time for the presentation...

Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first the Irish innings got off to the worst possible start as they lost 5 wickets inside the powerplay. The side struggled big time at 32 for 7 but the last 3 wickets added 74 crucial runs and gave their side some chance to fight for it. Joshua Little, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair and George Dockrell were the only batters to get into the double figure while others just came and went. Imad Wasim was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up 3 and gave away just 8 runs off his 4 overs. Shaheen Afridi too picked up 3 while Mohammad Amir took a couple and Haris Rauf took 1.

Bowling from Ireland was good a bit sluggish to start with but they were splendid in the middle phase. Barry McCarthy was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up 3 wickets for 15 from his 4 overs while Curtis Campher took a couple as well. Mark Adair and Ben White took one wicket each too. With seam options running out, they were forced to bowl spin at the death and Gareth Delany even made things interesting with the wicket of Abbas Afridi but by then, just a couple of big hits were needed and the opposition managed to get them.

Chasing down a low total, Pakistan were off to a watchful start as they scored 40 off the powerplay and lost just 1 wicket. The batters struggled in the middle phase and the Asian side lost wickets in a cluster as they lost 5 wickets of 23 in the middle phase. Babar Azam along with Abbas Afridi knitted a key partnership of 33 runs for the 7th wicket and brought the game closer to their grasp. In the end, it took Shaheen Afridi to close the game with a couple of maximums and ease off things for Pakistan. Babar Azam was the top scorer with a score of 32 while Abbas Afridi too played a good hand of 17.

Another low-scoring thriller and it took a gritty knock from Babar Azam to help his side cross the line. Pakistan ends their campaign on a winning note as they get past Ireland with a victory by 3 wickets.

SIX! BANG! That's it, it's all over! Gareth Delany tosses the ball up again around off stump, quite full as well. Shaheen Afridi stays deep in the crease and gets down on one knee before smashing the ball away a long, long way over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. PAKISTAN WIN BY 3 WICKETS!

This is nicely tossed up full on the stumps, Babar Azam leans on and drives it down to long on for a single.

DROPPED! A difficult chance but Paul Stirling should have taken it and had he done so, Ireland would have been back in it. Gareth Delany brings out the googly and floats it up outside off stump, Shaheen Afridi swings hard at it but cue ends it and the ball goes quickly over first slip where Paul Stirling gets a hand on it but cannot hang on. Single taken.

WIDE! A bit quicker and fuller but pushed well outside the off stump, Shaheen Afridi tries to reach it but fails to do so. Wide called.

SIX! Finally, that decisive blow comes from Pakistan and it is Shaheen Afridi who has hit it. Tossed up full around off, in the slot and too much air on that one. Shaheen goes down on one knee and whacks it over long on for a biggie.

Tossed up full on the legs, Babar Azam gets on the front foot and pushes it down to long on for a single.

Pushed through a bit fuller and around off stump, Shaheen Afridi solidly blocks it to the off side.

Nagging length, bowled on the off stump line, Shaheen Afridi opts to go on the back foot and defends it past first slip.