Ireland shock Pakistan in 1st T20I after Andrew Balbirnie heroics

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 11, 2024 00:27 IST

Ireland pulled off a stunning 5-wicket win over Pakistan in the first T20I of the 3-match series on Friday, May 10 at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin. Their former skipper Andrew Balbirnie was the star after he played a masterful knock under pressure. With a 1-0 lead, Paul Stirling and Co. will now fancy their chances to win the series when the teams next meet on Sunday.

Ireland vs Pakistan, 1st T20I: Highlights

Pakistan would be highly disappointed with the way they performed. After being asked to bat first, the visitors scored 182 for the loss of 6 wickets. Mohammad Rizwan departed early, but skipper Babar Azam and Saim Ayub put on 85 runs for the second wicket.

Babar scored 57 runs off 43 balls and equalled Virat Kohli’s tally of most 50 plus scores in T20Is (38). Ayub, on the other hand, hit 4 fours and 3 sixes on his way to scoring 45 off 29. Fakhar Zaman could not get going and scored 20 before Mark Adair accounted for his wicket. Azam Khan and Shadab Khan failed to open their accounts.

Iftikhar Ahmed used the long handle to good effect and stayed not out on 37 off 15 with 3 fours and as many sixes. Shaheen Shah Afridi also smacked a couple of sixes to remain unbeaten on 14 off 8. Craig Young was the pick of the Irish bowlers with figures of 4-0-27-2. Adair and Gareth Delany got one wicket apiece.

Balbirnie takes Ireland home in thriller

Ireland found themselves in early trouble as Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi dismissed Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker respectively. Thereafter, Balbirnie and Harry Tector injected momentum into the innings with a 77-run stand for the third wicket. Imad Wasim separated the duo after getting rid of Tector, who made 36 off 27.

Balbirnie, at the other end, brought up his half-century off 36 balls to keep Ireland in the hunt. He got the apt support from George Dockrell, Delany and Curtis Campher, who all chipped in with useful knocks. Shaheen removed Balbirnie, who scored 77 runs off 55 balls and put Ireland under pressure.

With 11 runs needed off the last over, Curtis Campher hit Abbas Afridi for a couple of fours to take Ireland past the finish line with a ball to spare.