LAUDERHILL, Florida, CMC – Pakistan beat Ireland by three wickets in a humdrum affair here Sunday to wrap up a hugely disappointing group stage campaign that saw them fail to reach the second stage of the Twenty20 World Cup.
With both teams already eliminated ahead of the Group A contest at the Central Broward County Stadium, the game held little significance. The 2009 champions survived a few jitters before successfully chasing down their paltry target of 107 with seven balls to spare.
Pakistan’s victory was their second in the group stage. Their four points were only good enough for a third-place finish, while Ireland ended winless and with three defeats.
“We are more disappointed. We could not perform as our players,” said Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
“I think we did not play well as a team. It’s not that we lost because of one person or he did this or that. As a team, we lost. As a team, we were not able to click.”
Choosing to bowl first, seamers Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-22) and Mohammad Amir (2-11) scythed through the top order to reduce Ireland to 32 for six in the seventh over.
Two partnerships then saw Ireland recover. First, Gareth Delaney blasted a 19-ball 31 with four and three sides to spearhead a 44-run, seventh wicket stand with Mark Adair (15) before number 10 Josh Little (22 not out) combined with Ben White (five not out) to add a further 26 for the last wicket, as Ireland reached 106 for nine off their 20 overs.
In reply, Pakistan was in dire straits at 62 for six at the end of the 11th over, seamers Barry McCarthy (3-15) and Curtis Campher (2-25) combining to run through the top order.
However, captain Babar Azam rescued the chase with an unbeaten 32 off 34 balls, anchoring a 33-run seventh-wicket partnership with Abbas Afridi (17), which put his side in sight of victory.
and then 