3rd T20I
Shaheen and Babar as well as Rizwan has helped Pakistan team to win the series with 2-1 in the three-match T20I Series
Ireland scored 178/7 in 20 overs, where as Pakistan scored 181/4 in 20 overs.
So, finally Pakistan beat Ireland by six wickets.
Pakistan displayed an all-round performance in the final game of the T20I series against Ireland, securing a commanding six-wicket victory in the decider on Tuesday (May 14).
Shaheen Afridi’s sensational bowling effort, claiming 3 wickets for 14 runs, played a pivotal role in restricting the hosts to 178 runs when they seemed poised for a higher total.
Babar Azam, along with Mohammad Rizwan, formed a formidable partnership, sharing a 139-run stand for the second wicket, ultimately chasing down the target with three overs to spare.
Ireland, missing regular captain Paul Stirling, were put into bat by Babar.
The innings started slowly, with only a run a ball in the first 15 deliveries before Shaheen Afridi dismantled Ross Adair’s stumps with a full inswinger.
Stand-in skipper Lorcan Tucker injected momentum into the innings, striking a six and two fours in Hasan Ali’s first over.
At the end of the Power Play, Ireland reached 50/1 on the board, and they continued brightly in the post-Power Play phase with Andrew Balbirnie and Tucker hitting boundaries.
Tucker reached his half-century off 29 balls with aggressive strokes off Saim Ayub.
However, the 85-run partnership was broken when Rizwan took a fine catch to dismiss Balbirnie for 35.
Despite Tucker’s aggressive approach, hitting Hasan Ali for three boundaries in an over, Ireland’s innings faltered when their captain was caught off Imad Wasim’s bowling for a commendable 73 off 41 balls.
Shaheen Afridi’s late strikes kept Ireland to a manageable total of 178, dismissing Neil Rock and Mark Adair.
Pakistan’s chase remained unthreatened after Saim Ayub’s dismissal in the third over.
The Babar-Rizwan duo took charge, with Rizwan taking the lead initially by hitting Graham Hume for consecutive boundaries.
Babar joined the onslaught, striking boundaries off Craig Young to accelerate the chase.
By the halfway mark, Pakistan was comfortably placed at 92/1.
Fielding lapses by the hosts further aided Pakistan’s charge, as they capitalized on a lucrative 11th over, smashing Curtis Campher for 18 runs, including a six and two fours by Babar.
Benjamin White faced the wrath of Babar, conceding four sixes in an over, propelling Pakistan towards victory.
Although Babar and Rizwan were dismissed, Azam Khan sealed the chase with a six off the last ball of the 17th over.
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