Ireland’s Maiden Win over Pakistan in T20I came with a bang at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin. In a historic showdown, the Irish team stunned the Green Shirts with a five-wicket triumph in the series opener.
Despite a fiery start by Pakistan, who managed to snatch two wickets in the initial five overs with Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi on the attack, Ireland’s resolve couldn’t be shaken. Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector showcased remarkable resilience, steering their team towards victory with a crucial 77-run partnership that turned the tide.
Tector’s departure after scoring 36 runs didn’t deter Balbirnie, who continued to lead the charge. George Dockrell injected fresh momentum into Ireland’s innings with a blistering 24 off just 12 balls, including four boundaries, swinging the match decisively in favor of the home team.
While Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged two wickets for Pakistan, Abbas Afridi, Imad Wasim, and Naseem Shah each claimed one wicket each. Pakistan’s Shaheen dismissed Balbirnie, but Gareth Delany and Curtis Campher steered Ireland across the finish line with composed performances.
In the first innings, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 182/6, led by skipper Babar Azam’s resilient knock of 57 off 43 balls, supported by Saim Ayub’s aggressive 45 off 29 deliveries. Despite an early setback with Mohammad Rizwan’s departure, Babar and Saim stabilized the innings with an 85-run partnership.
However, Pakistan faced a brief collapse, losing four wickets for just 31 runs, before Iftikhar Ahmed’s explosive cameo of 37* off 15 balls propelled them to a respectable total. Shaheen Shah Afridi also made a valuable contribution with an unbeaten 13 off 7 balls, featuring two sixes.
Ireland’s Maiden Win against Pakistan in T20I marked a historic milestone for Irish cricket, showcasing their growing prowess on the international stage.
