DUBLIN — Ireland's hopes of completing a historic T20 international series clean sweep against Pakistan were dashed as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the third and final match at Clontarf Cricket Club on Tuesday. Despite a spirited effort, the hosts couldn't contain Pakistan's batting firepower, allowing the visitors to salvage pride after losing the first two games of the series.
The Irish side, buoyed by their earlier victories, entered the match with confidence but struggled to post a competitive total. Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack restricted Ireland to 178/7 in their 20 overs, a target that proved insufficient against a dominant chase led by Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman. The result ensured Pakistan avoided a whitewash, finishing the series 2-1 in Ireland's favor.
Ireland's Batting Struggles
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Ireland got off to a shaky start, losing opener Paul Stirling early for just 12 runs. Captain Andy Balbirnie anchored the innings with a composed 45 off 38 balls, but wickets fell at regular intervals, preventing any significant partnerships from developing. "We knew Pakistan would come hard at us, but we didn't capitalize on the starts we got," Balbirnie admitted in the post-match press conference.
Key moments in Ireland's innings included:
- Lorcan Tucker's quickfire 31 off 20 balls, providing late momentum
- Shaheen Afridi's crucial spell of 2/28, including the wicket of Harry Tector
- Naseem Shah's economical figures of 1/25 in his four overs
Pakistan's Clinical Chase
Pakistan's response was led by a masterclass from Mohammad Rizwan, who remained unbeaten on 75 off 46 deliveries. His partnership with Fakhar Zaman (78 off 40) effectively sealed the game, as the pair added 140 runs for the second wicket in just 12.3 overs. "We knew we had to play positively after losing the series, and the openers set the perfect platform," said Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
Turning Point
The match turned decisively in Pakistan's favor during the powerplay, where they raced to 65/1. Ireland's bowlers struggled to contain the flow of boundaries, with Barry McCarthy's figures of 0/42 in four overs reflecting the visitors' dominance. Craig Young provided the only bright spot for Ireland, taking 1/28 in his spell.
Series Takeaways
Despite the final match loss, Ireland can take immense pride from their series victory:
- First-ever T20I series win against a full-member nation
- Emergence of young talents like Harry Tector and Mark Adair
- Proof of their growing competitiveness ahead of the T20 World Cup
For Pakistan, the series exposed vulnerabilities in their middle order and death bowling. "We have work to do before the World Cup, but today showed our character," remarked coach Gary Kirsten during the post-match presentation.
Looking Ahead
Both teams now turn their attention to the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA. Ireland will take confidence from their performances, while Pakistan will hope to build on their final-match momentum. The series has served as valuable preparation for both sides, with Ireland proving they can compete with cricket's elite.
Balbirnie reflected on the bigger picture: "Winning the series was special, but we know there's still a gap to bridge in consistency. Today's match showed we have areas to improve if we want to challenge the best teams regularly."
The match concluded Pakistan's European tour, while Ireland prepare for a T20I tri-series against Scotland and Netherlands later this month. Cricket fans worldwide will be watching closely to see if Ireland can maintain their upward trajectory in the shortest format of the game.