Ireland clinched a narrow victory against Pakistan in the first T20I in Dublin, reaching a 183-run target in the final over.
Pakistan, batting first after winning the toss, posted 182 for 6. Babar Azam led with 57 runs, while Saim Ayub added 45. Iftikhar Ahmed scored 37 off 15 balls, and Fakhar Zaman contributed 20 runs. However, Mohammad Rizwan and others added minimal runs.
Andy Balburnie’s outstanding 77-run knock powered Ireland’s successful chase in the 20th over.
Pakistani bowlers, including Abbas Afridi, who took two wickets and others like Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Imad Wasim, collectively took five wickets.
Ahead of the match, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, emphasized team unity and strategy alignment with coach Gary’s guidance. He stressed the importance of setting the final player combinations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Azam also noted Haris Rauf’s readiness and positive mindset for the World Cup.
Both teams are gearing up for the World Cup, using this series to fine-tune their squads. Pakistan aims to bolster its middle order with players like Usman Ali and Irfan Khan Niazi. Meanwhile, Ireland is looking to bounce back from a recent defeat to Afghanistan.
This series is a crucial preparation stage for the T20 World Cup, where both teams will face tough competitors in the group stage, including India, the USA, and Canada.
