Pakistan ended their T20 World Cup campaign on a high note with a three-wicket victory over Ireland in a nail-biting finish during the last Group A match on Sunday. Despite both teams being already eliminated, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam led his team through a tense chase, showcasing resilience and skill on the field.
Finishing third in the five-team group with four points, Pakistan had a tough group stage, suffering losses against India and the United States, both of whom advanced to the Super Eight stage. Ireland, on the other hand, ended their campaign at the bottom of the group with just one point, marking a winless tournament for them.
The match began with Pakistan winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Shaheen Afridi made an early impact, taking three wickets for 22 runs and dismissing both Andrew Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker in the first over. The momentum shifted when skipper Paul Stirling and George Dockrell fell to Mohammad Amir, who secured two wickets for 11 runs, leaving Ireland struggling at 28 for 5 in just the sixth over.
Despite the challenging start, Ireland fought back before ultimately succumbing to Pakistan’s determined performance, bringing the tournament to a close with a memorable finish.
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Pakistan end T20 World Cup campaign with three-wicket win over Ireland
cgtn.com
