The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
Castle Avenue is bathed in sunshine at it embodies the optimism that would fill the Ireland team after this win. Remember, they are in the same group as Pakistan in the T20 World Cup that will begin in less than a month's time. Hence, they would take a lot of confidence from this win. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage of it. This is the duo of Darpan Tikiya and Pradeep are signing off!
Andy Balbirnie (Player of the Match): 100% I believed. I did not watch the last over. I put a towel on my head. Because I felt it was my job to get Ireland over the line. Harry (Tector) spoke to me and said if you can bat normally till the 13th over, we could get the runs at the back end because it is a small ground. Yes, I was disappointed to get out on the full toss. You don't get too many of those deliveries from a bowler like Shaheen. This is the first time we have beaten Pakistan in T20 cricket. So yes, I am happy.
Paul Stirling (Ireland captain): We are absolutely delighted, perfect start to the summer and a brilliant day this for us. When you come here, against Pakistan, flattest pitch in the world and we were pretty happy with 180, at one stage we thought we could restrict them 170 but we were delighted to chase 180 on that track. Brilliant knock from Balbirnie, he got through the powerplay and picked up the pace later on as well. We have had great games here, especially against Pakistan, to get over the line is brilliant.
Babar Azam (Pakistan captain): We didn't start off well in the six overs, the pitch was two faced, with the extra-bounce. But, we recovered very well, 180 at the toss we thought it was good, but we weren't good with the bowling and fielding, few dropped catches cost us the game. Ireland batted well and they were the deserved winners, we lost it in the last 10 overs.
Stay tuned for the post match presentation. In the meantime, you can go through the summary of the game posted below.
Ireland 183/5 (19.5 overs) Andy Balbirnie 77 (55) | Abbas Afridi 2/26
The rollercoaster ride has ended up in rhapsodic joy for the home team. They go 1-0 up in the series against a much stronger Pakistan team on paper. Not only will this win be remembered for a while but it also brings them closer to an automatic qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Hence, it is indeed a moment to cherish and celebrate for the Irish.
For the neutral viewer though, it was a game that took them through the vicissitudes of emotions that only an enthralling cricket match can spark. It kept them on the edge of their seats and glued to the action throughout.
Pakistan started off conservatively with the bat. They faced 22 dot balls within the first six overs. Iftikhar Ahmed played a wonderful cameo to bring them back but he was reluctant to run a second run on the last ball of the innings. However, the real difference was the fielding and the running between the wickets from the two teams.
Ireland did not begin particularly well either. They faced the same number of dots in the powerplay and lost two wickets too. But it was the running between the wickets through the middle phase that constantly kept Pakistan fielders under check and kept the scoreboard ticking for the home team.
While Andy Balbirnie played a match winning knock of 77. This win would not have been possible without the cameos of George Dockrell and Curtis Campher. Dockrell's quick 24, turned the momentum in Ireland's favour after they had lost Tector's wicket. But it was Campher who held his nerve in the final moments to guide them home. That reverse scoop is likely to give Shaheen and his fans a few nightmares in the days to come.
19.5 Abbas Afridi to Curtis Campher, IRELAND STUN PAKISTAN! Ireland go 1-0 up in the series, it's a historic moment for Ireland as they beat Pakistan. Short into the batter, Campher looks to pull but misses, cops the blow on the body but Delany was lightening quick to get across and that has been signaled a wide but doesn't matter. Pakistan have plenty to ponder!
Naseem Shah hasn't got up after the dive at the boundary. Irfan Niazi is in as a substitute.
SCORES ARE LEVEL!!! Ireland need one to win off two balls. Can Pakistan drag it into a super over somehow?