Published: Aug 18, 2016, 11:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 18, 2016, 11:39 PM (IST)
Pakistan cruised to a 255-run victory against Ireland in the first ODI against Ireland. A complete performance from the touring side, ended what was a one-sided fixture, played at The Village in Dublin. A Sharjeel Khan maiden-Test century was the highlight of the match, as he struck a 16 fours and 9 sixes in his knock of 152, off just 86 balls. His innings along with middle-order contributions from Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and debutant Mohammad Nawaz, made sure Pakistan reach a target in excess of 300. They eventually ended at 337/6 in a game that was reduced to 47 overs per side, due to delay in start because of the wet outfield. Ireland though, posed no challenge as they were bundled out for 82, their lowest score in an ODI in Ireland. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs Ireland,1st ODI at The Village, Malahide, Dublin
Mohammad Aamer, produced breakthrough for Pakistan, sending Paul Stirling back in to the pavilion in the very first over. Umar Gul, making his return to the Pakistan ODI side, then ruptured the Irish batting line-up with three quick wickets of, William Porterfield, the in-form Ed Joyce and Kevin O’Brien. Porterfield was out bowled for 13. Joyce and O’Brien were picked up by Gul in the same over. FULL CRICKET UPDATES: Pakistan vs Ireland, 1st ODI at Dublin
Losing wickets at regular intervals cost Ireland the game as not only against pace, they struggled against spin too. Imad Wasim managed to take 5 for 14, as he ran through the Ireland lower-order with no difficulty whatsoever. It was his first fifer in international cricket. Wasim took 3 wickets in 4 balls, almost taking a hat-trick in the process as Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh and Peter Chase, all were dismissed in the 24th over of the innings.
Earlier, Sharjeel hit the third fastest 150 in ODI cricket from just 85 balls. Pakistan lost a wicket in the fourth over when skipper Azhar Ali was caught behind to McCarthy’s ninth ball but Hafeez helped the recovery in a second-wicket stand of 90, and Sharjeel and Babar Azam then put on 94 for the third wicket in just 63 deliveries.
The only time Pakistan were troubled was when Sarfraz Ahmed followed Sharjeel back to the pavilion just three balls later to leave Pakistan 227 for five.
But Malik and Nawaz, continued to take apart Irish spinners Andy McBrine and Stirling, who conceded 107 runs in their combined 12 overs.
(With inputs from AFP)
Brief Scores
Pakistan 337 for 8 in 47 overs (Sharjeel Khan 152, Shoaib Malik 57; Barry McCarthy 4 for 62) beat Ireland 82 (Gary Wilson 21, Andy McBrine 14; Imad Wasim 5 for 14) by 255 runs
