Ireland beat Pakistan in first T20I of three-match series
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DUBLIN: (Web Desk) In the first T20I of the three-match series on Friday, Ireland for the first time defeated Pakistan by five wickets at the Clontarf Cricket Club, Dublin.

 Pakistan managed a brilliant start while defending the 183-run target. The Green Shirts got two wickets in the first five overs with Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi took the wickets while Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector then resisted successfully.

The duo formed a formidable 77-run partnership which brought the home team back in the game.

Though Tector departed after scoring 36 runs, yet Balbirnie continued to score for his side. George Dockrell scored 24 runs on 12 balls with four boundaries. The much-needed energy in Ireland’s innings turned out to be the turning point of the match.

Shaheen got two wickets while Abbas Afridi, Imad Wasim and Naseem Shah took one wicket each.

Greet Shirts got a big breakthrough when Shaheen removed Balbirnie but Gareth Delany (10 on 6) and Curtis Campher (15 on 7) led them to win.

Earlier, Pakistan scored 182 runs for 6 wickets as captain Babar Azam shined with 57 off 43 balls while Saim Ayub made 29 off 45 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed chipped in with 15-ball 37*.

Pakistan lost Mohammad Rizwan (1) early in the innings. Babar paired with Saim to provide stability to the innings with an 85-run stand.

Saim could score 45 runs off 29 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes.

Babar crossed fifty for the 38th time and caught by Mark Adair off the bowling of Craig Young after scoring 57 runs off 43 balls.

Iftikhar smoked 15-ball 37 including three fours and as many sixes. Shaheen Shah Afridi scored 13 runs off 7 balls including two sixes, with a strike rate of 185.71.