Well what a way to finish the game, four Irish wickets fell in the last two overs. This is the lowest ever score for Ireland in an ODI in Ireland, and the second lowest ODI total for Ireland ever. With Ireland losing a wicket with the second delivery of the reply, they never really recovered. Wilson top scored with 21 its was simply never going to be enough against this excellent Pakistan side.
Mohammad Amir was excellent up front and then Umar Gul took three quick wickets to rip the heart out of the Irish top order. Mohammad Nawaz even took a wicket on his ODI debut. The pick of the bowlers was Imad Wasim, who finished off with 5 wickets to produce his best ever ODI bowling performance.
Its such a shame that this game turned into such a mis-match, although from the moment that Sharjeel started smashing the ball to all parts of the ground, Ireland never really had a chance. Its safe to say that the crowd at the match today will not forget that innings in a while.
So with the next ODI only two days away, there will not be much time for the teams rest before we start all over again on Saturday. I'm sure that there will be a lot for Ireland to think about and discuss before then. So I hope that you enjoyed following my commentary today, I'll be back here again on Saturday and I hope that you will be able to join me then. Until then this is Justin Smyth saying goodbye from a sunlit Malahide.
PKD Chase b Imad Wasim 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
TJ Murtagh b Imad Wasim 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
BJ McCarthy b Imad Wasim 1 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
END OF OVER:23 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | IRE: 82/7 (256 runs required from 24 overs, RR: 3.56, RRR: 10.66)
- Andy McBrine14 (21b)
- Barry McCarthy1 (2b)
- Mohammad Nawaz3-0-14-1
- Imad Wasim5-0-14-2
GC Wilson st †Sarfaraz Ahmed b Mohammad Nawaz 21 (33b 2x4 0x6) SR: 63.63
END OF OVER:22 | 2 Runs | IRE: 81/6 (257 runs required from 25 overs, RR: 3.68, RRR: 10.28)
- Gary Wilson21 (31b)
- Andy McBrine14 (19b)
- Imad Wasim5-0-14-2
- Mohammad Nawaz2-0-13-0
END OF OVER:21 | 1 Run | IRE: 79/6 (259 runs required from 26 overs, RR: 3.76, RRR: 9.96)
- Gary Wilson20 (28b)
- Andy McBrine13 (16b)
- Mohammad Nawaz2-0-13-0
- Imad Wasim4-0-12-2