Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
17 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 181/4 | RR: 10.64

  • Azam Khan18 (6b)
  • Imad Wasim1 (1b)
  • Mark Adair4-0-28-3
  • Craig Young4-0-49-1

We hope you enjoyed our coverage throughout the series. Until we meet again, stay passionate, stay connected, and keep loving the game. This is Rvel Zahid, saying goodbye on behalf of the entire team at ESPNcricinfo.

Shaheen Afridi, Player of the Match: We tried to hit our lines and lengths and that was the reason for our success. Last two matches, we bowled too full at the start. We have a strong bowling attack and have seniors to guide each other so we just needed partnerships in bowling. For us, before World Cup, it's important to have these games to ready ourselves and there are a few areas to improve. They're both world class players (Babar and Rizwan) and they know how to play their role and they have done really well on this pitch.

Babar Azam, Pakistan Captain: I think all the credit Ireland batters. They played first (half), but Amir Abbas Shaheen, Hassan Ali bowled well. They were 110 at end of 11th but we took a few wickets and put pressure on them. We were good at the death. We enjoyed crowd presence and we tried to entertain them. We had good communication in the middle because we have played a lot of cricket together; we were trying to play on our strengths with belief and aim was to match with the run rate. Big tournament coming up and this is good practice and now looking forward to the England series. lots of positives for us and we were able to execute our plans. Yes we made a few mistakes which we will sit and discuss.

Lorcan Tucker, Ireland Captain: It was brilliant and a great privilege to captain. It would have been nice to start with a win. It was nice to get out there and experience, who knows what's going to happen in America. We set up a platform nicely but unfortunately, we couldn't finish well. We gave everyone a go with the ball. Credit to the lads, they bowled well in tough conditions. Maybe it was a bit disappointing with the result but we had positives from the series. We don't know what's going to happen in New York in a couple of weeks but let's hope for the best.

An outstanding chase from Pakistan. They never looked off-track as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan batted beautifully together. Rizwan was severe on the bowlers right from the word go, while Babar took some time before unleashing his power-hitting. The Pakistan captain bludgeoned White for four sixes in the 14th over. That was some audacious strokeplay, and it remained the prevailing theme of the innings. Apart from Adair, bowlers had a nightmare out there. Azam Khan finished with back-to-back incredible performances; he loves batting in these situations. His game plan is simple: go for his shots and seal the game. Shaheen Afridi had a terrific outing once again and looks like he has resumed normal service.

Haider: "Its good to end at a high note... but the real test will be coming next week... when they face Eng at their home condition..."

tarek: "Great job AZAM KHAN- his batting average is now 11.0 after 11 matches. Keep it up big fella !"

Ali Hasni: "In first match i said if babar bats at 3, it will give more stability in this fragile middle order. Seems to have proved my comment right"

16.6
6
MR Adair to Azam Khan, SIX, Jockeys across off for a slog sweep, gets a top edge that flies away to deep square, two fielders converging, I think it's Tector who pouches it, throws the ball back in the air with the momentum taking him over the rope. He has made contact with the rope with the ball still in his hand so that'll be the winning runs. Pakistan winning this at a canter!
16.5
6
MR Adair to Azam Khan, SIX, Short of a length delivery outside off, he walks across his stumps and jauntily biffs it over deep midwicket for half-a-dozen runs. Azam Khan making a mark again with his power-hitting, that's what he is renowned for. Good time for him to locate his mojo, very handful down the order
16.5
1w
MR Adair to Azam Khan, 1 wide, Went too wide, plan is good, Azam not quite quick with his footwork so perhaps a wide yorker is a good option against him especially if you have pace
16.4
0
MR Adair to Azam Khan, no run, Round the wicket, hurls down an effort full ball sliding across off, played down the wrong line, Adair continues to impress
16.3
1
MR Adair to Imad Wasim, 1 run, Flips it on a shortish length and follows him as he steps away to the on side, cloths it away to midwicket and the fielder fumbles a little
16.2
W
MR Adair to Iftikhar Ahmed, OUT, Gottim! On a length and it jags back at middle, Iftikhar pounds it downtown and holes out to long-on. Wanted to finish the game in style but he got more elevation than distance on this occasion, he has been finding fielders at long-on and long-off quite often in the last few games, didn't find the middle on this occasion, Adair continues to have a splendid outing

Iftikhar Ahmed c Campher b MR Adair 5 (4m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00

16.1
0
MR Adair to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, Back of a length outside off, runs it down to short third. Slowish rising ball on fifth stump

END OF OVER:
16 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 167/3 (12 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 10.43, RRR: 3.00)

  • Azam Khan6 (3b)
  • Iftikhar Ahmed5 (2b)
  • Craig Young4-0-49-1
  • Mark Adair3-0-14-2
15.6
4
Young to Azam Khan, FOUR, Puts on his dancing shoes and clobbers it away from fielder at cow corner for a four. Committed to the shot and adjusted well, he is all about that power, even a mishit has high chances of clearing the rope, just 12 away from a resounding win
15.5
1
Young to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, Slightly short and floating outside off, slaps a cut shot to deep point
15.4
4
Young to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR, Slow and dug in short at middle, stands tall and gets off the mark with an exclamation mark, slugged behind square leg for a four

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st16Mohammad RizwanSaim Ayub
2nd139Mohammad RizwanBabar Azam
3rd3Babar AzamAzam Khan
4th9Iftikhar AhmedAzam Khan
5th14Imad WasimAzam Khan