PAK vs IRE Match 36 Commentary

SIX! BANG! That's it, it's all over! Gareth Delany tosses the ball up again around off stump, quite full as well. Shaheen Afridi stays deep in the crease and gets down on one knee before smashing the ball away a long, long way over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. PAKISTAN WIN BY 3 WICKETS!

This is nicely tossed up full on the stumps, Babar Azam leans on and drives it down to long on for a single.

DROPPED! A difficult chance but Paul Stirling should have taken it and had he done so, Ireland would have been back in it. Gareth Delany brings out the googly and floats it up outside off stump, Shaheen Afridi swings hard at it but cue ends it and the ball goes quickly over first slip where Paul Stirling gets a hand on it but cannot hang on. Single taken.

WIDE! A bit quicker and fuller but pushed well outside the off stump, Shaheen Afridi tries to reach it but fails to do so. Wide called.

SIX! Finally, that decisive blow comes from Pakistan and it is Shaheen Afridi who has hit it. Tossed up full around off, in the slot and too much air on that one. Shaheen goes down on one knee and whacks it over long on for a biggie.

Tossed up full on the legs, Babar Azam gets on the front foot and pushes it down to long on for a single.

Pushed through a bit fuller and around off stump, Shaheen Afridi solidly blocks it to the off side.

Nagging length, bowled on the off stump line, Shaheen Afridi opts to go on the back foot and defends it past first slip.

OUT! CAUGHT! Spin has done the trick here and Ben White picks up a huge wicket. This is flighted up but on a dragged length on middle stump. Abbas Afridi skips down the track but doesn't quite get to the pitch of the ball and forces the lofted shot very high towards long on. There's not enough power on it and the substitute fielder, Ross Adair settles under it to take a fine catch under pressure. Still, 12 needed and Pakistan have three wickets in hand. Also, Shaheen Afridi walks out to bat now.

Fractionally short and outside off, Babar Azam rocks back and cuts it in front of the point region for one more.

Dug in a bit short but flatter as well around off, Abbas Afridi rocks back to pull but miscues it badly and back over the bowler's head towards mid off for a single.

Floated up full and outside off stump, Abbas Afridi gets a big stride across the off stump looking to pull it fine but misses. He gets struck on the pads and there is a bit of an appeal for LBW which is turned down. Paul Stirling though reviews it in hopes off a miracle. The third umpire is called in and there's no bat involved as confirmed by UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows the impact as outside the line of off stump. It stays NOT OUT and Ireland have lost both their reviews.

Tidy from Gareth Delany and now Pakistan need 14 runs off 18 balls. Tossed up quite full on middle, Abbas Afridi drives it away down to long on and picks up a single.

Beaten! This one is looped up full and around off stump, Abbas Afridi looks to drive but it is too full and gets beaten. The keeper pouches it safely and after a bit of confusion, Paul Stirling sends it upstairs to check if there was a nick or not. The first replay shows that the bat hit the ground and the ball went past the inside edge and then UltraEdge confirms that there was no edge on it. NOT OUT!

Tossed up on the off stump line, Babar Azam leans ahead and shows the full face of the bat before driving it down to long off for a single.

Flighted up on the legs, Abbas Afridi gets on the front foot and flicks it away through mid-wicket for a single.

Full and at the stumps again, Abbas Afridi pushes it out towards mid on.

Starts with a leg break and tosses it really full on off and middle. Abbas Afridi jams it back to the bowler and the Irish players will that is caught and bowled. It seemed to be a bump ball but the umpires have sent it upstairs. The replays roll in and it looks like the ball took the inside edge, bounced and then lobbed up off the boot and NOT OUT comes up on the big screen.

Oh, for a second, Babar's heart would have been in his mouth! Curtis Campher takes some pace off this delivery and bowls it just a smidge fuller on the stumps. Babar Azam looks to get on the front foot but the ball stops on him and he gets a leading edge that falls short of mid off.

Back of a length and in the channel outside off, Abbas Afridi presses back and opens the bat face to play it towards backward point for a run.

SIX! Oh, that's gone all the way and Ireland cannot believe it. Dug in short again by Curtis Campher but this time Abbas Afridi is ready and pulls it away over the square leg fence for a maximum.

Nice and full, almost gets it in the blockhole around off, Abbas Afridi jams the ball out to the man at short cover.

Back of a length and around off, punched away off the back foot wide of covers for a single.

Up in the air but falls in no man's land! A well-directed bumper, right at the batter's face, Abbas Afridi looks to take it on and miscues the pull around backward square leg. The keeper scampers towards it but won't reach it. A single is taken.

Back of a length and outside off stump, Abbas Afridi stays back and dabs it away wide of the gully region for a quick single. 26 needed now off 30 balls.

Good length around middle, trying to slide it into the pads, Babar Azam gets inside the line and flicks it down to fine leg for an easy single.

FOUR! Trademark cover drive from Babar Azam and that will make him feel a lot better. A shade too full and wide, Babar leans on and creams it square through covers for a boundary.

Another dot ball and a hobbling Joshua Little is doing a fine job so far. Puts a bit more effort in this delivery and bangs it in halfway down the pitch but slower too. Babar Azam pulls but without any timing and towards mid-wicket.

Back of a length again and around off stump, Babar Azam plays it off the back foot and gets it down towards the cover fielder.

Back of a length and at the body, Babar Azam blocks it with soft hands just on the off side and looks for a quick single but he is sent back.

Just short of a good length and in the channel around off, gently moving away as well, Abbas Afridi looks to dab it away but is beaten past the outside edge.

FOUR! Well, that's one way to release the pressure. Pitched up right in the slot around middle stump, Abbas Afridi clears the front leg and slogs the ball off the inner half of the bat between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary.

The pressure is being built up on Abbas Afridi with these dot balls. Bowled back of a length and around off stump, Afridi presses back and dabs it down to short third.

Just a bit full and outside off again, Abbas Afridi has a go at it but is well beaten again.

Nicely bowled! On a hard length again but outside off and this one seams away after pitching. Abbas Afridi has a poke at it but the ball beats the outside edge.

Hits the deck hard and bowls it around off, Babar Azam stands tall and wrists the ball away in front of mid-wicket for a run.

This is dug in short as well and outside off, Abbas Afridi mistimes the pull and gets it in front of the man at mid-wicket.

Full and just angling in from off stump, Babar Azam flicks it away towards deep square leg and picks up a single.

Banged in halfway down the pitch and around off, Babar Azam does well to ride the bounce and hammers the pull well in front of square on the leg side for a couple of runs.

Back of a length again and around off, Abbas Afridi hangs back and angles it away towards third man for one more.

Back of a length and angling it in from around off stump, Abbas Afridi stays back and blocks it back on the deck.

Short of a length and over middle, Babar Azam gets on top of the bounce and pulls it away through the square leg region for just a single.

Hard length over middle and leg, Babar Azam works it off his legs and in front of square on the leg side for a single. End of a brilliant spell from Barry McCarthy as he finishes with figures of 4-1-15-3.

Back of a length and around off stump, Babar Azam hops back and plays it away in front of point.

On the fuller side and right at the stumps, Babar Azam plays it with a straight bat but right towards the bowler.

Just back of a length and over off stump, Babar Azam presses back and just tucks it away with soft hands into the vacant spaces around mid-wicket and picks up a couple of quick runs.

Good length, honing in around middle and angling it in, Babar Azam leans on and tentatively plays it just to the right of the bowler.

Pitched up a bit around off stump, Babar Azam gets on the front foot and gently plays it to the left of the bowler.

OUT! CAUGHT! Harry Tector with a stellar catch and Imad Wasim cannot believe it. Short and wide from Curtis Campher, there to be put away. Imad stands tall and looks to slap the ball away but hits it flat and straight towards backward point where Tector takes a sharp catch with both hands just to his right and Pakistan are in deep trouble now.

Digs it in well shot over off and tries to angle it back in, Imad Wasim hops and keeps it down on the off side.

FOUR! Good shot and very much needed from Pakistan's point of view. Just too full and straight, Imad Wasim drives it on the up and drills it to the right of mid on for a boundary.

Banged in halfway around off and middle, Babar Azam looks to pull it flat but miscues it badly towards mid on for a single.

Hits the deck hard and bowls it over middle, this one stays just a tad low and Babar Azam tucks it straight to mid-wicket.

A snorter of a delivery that! Curtis Campher bustles in and bangs it into the deck around off stump, gets the ball to angle in and shoot off the deck. Babar Azam manages to sway away from the line of the ball.

Back of a length outside off, Imad Wasim goes fishing and misses.

Good length around off, Imad Wasim punches this to cover for no run.

Good length on off, Imad Wasim defends this off the front foot.

OUT! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! Half-volley around the pads, Shadab Khan looks to flick and loses his body shape as he falls over this but gets a faint edge to it back to the keeper to his left. Lorcan Tucker does well to dive low to his left and pouch this. A sensational phase of play for Ireland.

Back of a length angling down leg, Shadab Khan misses the block and the ball hits him on the pads. Appeal by the Irish team but the umpire turns it down.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Good length around off, holds into the surface a bit. Usman Khan throws his hands at it and gets an outside edge lobs into the hands of Harry Tector at backward point. Tense moments for Pakistan.

Good length angling into the batter, Usman Khan tucks this through square leg for one.

Back of a length around off, Babar Azam dabs this in front of short cover and takes a quick single.

Short-pitched in middle, Babar Azam pulls this off the cue end towards mid-wicket and scampers back for two.

Fuller outside off, Babar Azam pushes this back to the bowler.

Short-pitched outside off, Usman Khan dabs this towards third man region for one.

OUT! Another brilliant catch and Fakhar Zaman has to walk back. Pitched up outside off, Fakhar Zaman looks to loft this over mid off but Ross Adair moves well to his right and takes a good catch timing his jump to perfection.

Fuller outside off, Fakhar Zaman lofts this through cover for one.

On a length around leg, Babar Azam tucks this towards the right of Joshua Little at mid on and takes a good single.

Good length around off, Fakhar Zaman punches this through cover-point for one.

Bumper around leg, Fakhar Zaman goes for the pull and misses.

Fuller around off, Fakhar Zaman drives this to extra-cover for no run.

Back of a length around off, Fakhar Zaman dabs this towards backward point and was looking for one but Babar denied it.

Wrong'un around off, Fakhar Zaman gently places this wide of cover-point to his left for one.

Short of a length around off, Babar Azam leans back and cuts this through point for a single.

Fuller in middle, Babar Azam swivels and nudges this towards deep mid-wicket and takes a couple.

Tossed up in middle, Babar Azam defends this off the front foot.

FOUR! Half-tracker around the pads, Babar Azam sweeps this over the short fine fielder and gets a boundary.

Short of a length around off, Fakhar Zaman cuts this towards deep point for one.

Pitched up on the pads, Fakhar Zaman flicks this towards the left of mid-wicket and takes one.

OUT! SPLENDID TAKE TO REMOVE RIZWAN! On a length around the pads, Mohammad Rizwan flicks this and connects well but gets unlucky to find the tallest fielder in the outfield stationed at the fence towards deep square leg. Mark Adair times his jump to perfection and pouches a brilliant catch keeping his balance well to not touch the boundary skirting.

Back of a length around off, Mohammad Rizwan dabs this to short third for no run.

On a length around the pads, Mohammad Rizwan tucks this through mid-wicket for a couple.

WIDE! Barry McCarthy gets away with this as Rizwan misses a connection with the ball down leg.

FOUR! On a length drifting down leg at a gentle pace. Mohammad Rizwan swipes at it with one hand off the handle and gets a boundary towards deep square.

Good length outside off, Babar Azam punches this wide of cover-point for a single.

On a length around off, Mohammad Rizwan drives this towards mid off and this time Tector doesn't throw it.

FOUR! Poor effort behind the stumps and Rizwan gets four to his account. Pitched up on off, Mohammad Rizwan drills this to mid off. Harry Tector throws at the striker's end and Lorcan Tucker fails to gather this behind the stumps. The ball races away for four behind the stumps.

Yorker on middle and leg, Mohammad Rizwan rolls it towards mid on for no run.

WIDE! On a length sliding down leg, Mohammad Rizwan misses the flick.

Good length on the pads, Mohammad Rizwan flicks this in the empty pocket through square leg and comes back for the second.

On a length around the pads, Babar Azam tucks this towards deep fine leg to get off the mark.

OUT! A good catch by Lorcan Tucker sees the end of Saim Ayub. On a length around off, Saim Ayub looks to drag this over towards the on side, gets an outside edge hanging high over the keeper to his right. Lorcan Tucker does well to judge this well and pouch this backpaddling.

Good length in middle and leg, Saim Ayub pushes this towards the leg side for a single.

FOUR! Pitched up around the pads, Saim Ayub was quickly onto it as he flicked this wide of mid-wicket for a boundary. The outfield is slow but not slow enough. Also, Joshua Little has received a second and final warning for running into the danger area. One more instance and he will be out of the attack.

FOUR! Saim Ayub is getting used to the pace of the pitch well. Short-pitched around leg, Saim Ayub swivels and pulls this flat towards the empty pocket at deep square region for four.

Short-pitched into the body, Saim Ayub looks for the tap and run but Rizwan denies it.

Good length on off, Saim Ayub cuts this towards point for no run.

LEG BYE! On a length shaping down leg, Mohammad Rizwan tucks this off his pads towards square leg for one.

SIX! DISPATCHED! On a length slightly onto his pads, Saim Ayub latches onto this and flicks this all the way for a maximum over the deep square leg fielder.

Good length pitching on off and shaping in. Saim Ayub blocks it out.

Fuller one wide of off, Saim Ayub goes for the drive and gets beaten again.

Back of a length around off, Saim Ayub swipes at it and misses.

Good length angling across the batter, Saim Ayub looks to poke at it and gets beaten.

Good length around the pads, Mohammad Rizwan nudges this towards deep fine leg for a single.

Bends his back and hits the hard length outside off, Saim Ayub looks to cut this but gets beaten.

Good length in middle and off, shaping away from the left-hander. Saim Ayub dabs this towards mid on for no run.

Pitched up on the pads, Saim Ayub flicks this into the empty pocket towards deep square for a couple.

Back of a length around off, Saim Ayub dabs this towards point for no run.

Short and wide outside off, Saim Ayub looks for the square cut but misses.

Good length on top of off, Saim Ayub punches this back to the bowler.

Too full around the pads, Mohammad Rizwan flicks this towards mid-wicket for no run.

Back of a length in middle and leg, Mohammad Rizwan defends this towards the leg side for no run.

JAFFA! Good length on off, shaping away after pitching. Mohammad Rizwan looks to block this and gets beaten on his outside edge.

Back of a length around off, Mohammad Rizwan thumps this towards point for no run.

FOUR! LIGHTENING QUICK! Pitched up in middle, Mohammad Rizwan dances down the track and smashes this right past the bowler to his left for a boundary towards long off.

Sideways movement to start with. On a length around off, shaping away from the batter. Mohammad Rizwan looks to block this but gets beaten.