Nervous Pakistan win series
Younus, Akmal guide tourists to five-wicket win in the second and final ODI.
BELFAST:
Umar Akmal and Younus Khan combined to guide Pakistan to a nervous five-wicket win against Ireland as the tourists wrapped up the series 2-0 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
Pakistan, chasing a 238-run target, were reduced to 80 for three in the 21st over before Younus and captain Misbahul Haq added 68.
The match went Pakistan’s way from that point on as the former captain and Akmal, coming in after Misbah’s dismissal, steered the tourists with a 89-run stand. Younus was dismissed going for a big hit, two runs short of the win, after a well-made 64 before Akmal hit the winning runs.
He remained unbeaten for 60, off just 47 deliveries, that provided the final impetus for Pakistan’s late charge.
Ireland might have sensed an upset win after opener Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed without scoring. Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali put on 63 for the second wicket. With the run-rate climbing, Taufeeq and Azhar were sent back within the space of 15 runs before Younus arrived to anchor the innings.
Stirling stirs up Ireland
Earlier, Paul Stirling’s third One-Day International hundred was the centre-piece of Ireland’s total.
Ireland, skittled out for 96 during Pakistan’s seven-wicket win in Saturday’s series-opener, were on course for a substantial total while the 20-year-old Stirling was at the crease. The batsman, who plays for Middlesex, made 109 off just 107 balls with four sixes and seven fours. But when he was fourth out for 182 at the start of the 44th over, Ireland failed to regroup.
The hosts lost the momentum during the rain interruption, after 37 overs, well placed on 159 for two.
Junaid, Saturday’s man-of-the-match with four wickets, finished with two for 53 but the majority of those runs came in his first spell when Stirling was on the rampage. The 21-year-old left-arm paceman got his revenge in the Powerplay when he bowled Stirling and followed up with wicket of Gary Wilson, in the last over, for a bright and breezy 33 from just 25 balls, with five fours.
Ajmal was Pakistan’s most successful bowler with four for 35. He made the initial breakthrough in the 15th over, when he had Ed Joyce caught behind for 17. Ajmal also had Alex Cusack stumped for 26, the dangerous Kevin O’Brien caught on the long-off boundary for just seven and John Mooney caught behind.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2011.
Umar Akmal and Younus Khan combined to guide Pakistan to a nervous five-wicket win against Ireland as the tourists wrapped up the series 2-0 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
Pakistan, chasing a 238-run target, were reduced to 80 for three in the 21st over before Younus and captain Misbahul Haq added 68.
The match went Pakistan’s way from that point on as the former captain and Akmal, coming in after Misbah’s dismissal, steered the tourists with a 89-run stand. Younus was dismissed going for a big hit, two runs short of the win, after a well-made 64 before Akmal hit the winning runs.
He remained unbeaten for 60, off just 47 deliveries, that provided the final impetus for Pakistan’s late charge.
Ireland might have sensed an upset win after opener Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed without scoring. Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali put on 63 for the second wicket. With the run-rate climbing, Taufeeq and Azhar were sent back within the space of 15 runs before Younus arrived to anchor the innings.
Stirling stirs up Ireland
Earlier, Paul Stirling’s third One-Day International hundred was the centre-piece of Ireland’s total.
Ireland, skittled out for 96 during Pakistan’s seven-wicket win in Saturday’s series-opener, were on course for a substantial total while the 20-year-old Stirling was at the crease. The batsman, who plays for Middlesex, made 109 off just 107 balls with four sixes and seven fours. But when he was fourth out for 182 at the start of the 44th over, Ireland failed to regroup.
The hosts lost the momentum during the rain interruption, after 37 overs, well placed on 159 for two.
Junaid, Saturday’s man-of-the-match with four wickets, finished with two for 53 but the majority of those runs came in his first spell when Stirling was on the rampage. The 21-year-old left-arm paceman got his revenge in the Powerplay when he bowled Stirling and followed up with wicket of Gary Wilson, in the last over, for a bright and breezy 33 from just 25 balls, with five fours.
Ajmal was Pakistan’s most successful bowler with four for 35. He made the initial breakthrough in the 15th over, when he had Ed Joyce caught behind for 17. Ajmal also had Alex Cusack stumped for 26, the dangerous Kevin O’Brien caught on the long-off boundary for just seven and John Mooney caught behind.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2011.