A 140-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan, who both scored half-centuries, to defeat Ireland by seven wickets in the second T20I and level the series 1-1 here on Sunday. Azam Khan hammered a 10-ball 30 to propel Pakistan to victory as he scored around 70 runs in the last six overs.
Mohammad Rizwan made an unbeaten 75 from 46 balls while Fakhar Zaman made a 40-ball 78 as Pakistan reached 195/3 in 16.5 overs as they established their strength after being stunned by Ireland in from the first match a few days ago. Pakistan had restricted Ireland to 193/7 after opting to bat first after winning the toss.
Rizwan and Zaman came together after Pakistan collapsed to 2-13 after opener Saim Ayub was out for six while Babar Azam was dismissed for nil.
Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman put on a century partnership for the third wicket, reaching their half-century in the process. Rizwan reached his half-century with 34 runs, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. Fakhar Zaman reached his fifty off 31 balls, peppered with three boundaries and four maximums.
Fakhar Zaman was out for 78, caught by Delany off Ben White after hitting the bowler with four and a successful six to bring the run rate down to manageable levels. Azam Khan slammed four sixes and a four, hitting three sixes off Mark Adair in the 17th over, capitalizing on a no-ball.
The victory was achieved by the Pakistani bowlers with Shaheen Shah Afridi winning 3-49 and Abbas Afridi winning 2-33. Andy Balbirnie, who took a half-century to help Ireland shock Pakistan in the first T20I, and Paul Stirling could not give Ireland a good start as the latter fell to Shaheen Shah for 11. From 29/1, they dropped to 34/2 with Shaheen Shah also getting it for 16 runs.
Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector (32) took the score to 96 before Tector was bowled out by Abbas Afridi, hitting four boundaries. Tucker and Curtis Campher (22) brought the score to 137 before Campher came out.
Ireland eventually managed to reach 193/7 thanks to a 10-ball 28 as the hosts reached 193/7 in 20 overs, which ultimately proved insufficient as Pakistan reached the target off 19 balls reserved.
Brief scores:
Ireland 193/7 in 20 overs (Lorcan Tucker 51, Harry Tucker 32; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-49, Abbas Afridi 2-33) lost to Pakistan 195/3 in 16.5 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 75 not out , Fakhar Zaman 78, Azam Khan 30 not out; Ben While 1-39, Mark Adair 1-43) by seven wickets.
