DUBLIN: Pakistan captain Babar Azam opened up on Pakistan’s shock defeat against Ireland in the first T20I of the three-match series here on Friday.
Pakistan succumbed to their first-ever defeat against Ireland in T20Is. The two sides had faced each other only once before in the format during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 where the eventual champions emerged victorious.
Meanwhile, Babar, while talking at the post-match presentation asserted that the lack of execution in fielding and bowling cost the team the match while asserting that the touring side was also some runs short.
“We didn’t start well in the first 6 overs; the pitch was a bit two-paced and had some bounce. We recovered well after that and got 182 but I think 190 was a par score,” stated Babar.
“But I think we lost due to the bowling and fielding. We didn’t execute our plans and had some sloppy lapses in the field which cost us,” he added.
Put into bat first, Pakistan accumulated 182/5 in the allotted 20 overs, courtesy of Babar Azam’s anchoring half-century, followed by Iftikhar Ahmed’s late onslaught.
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Babar remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a 43-ball 57, followed by young opener Saim Ayub, who scored 45. Whereas, Iftikhar bolstered the team total with an unbeaten cameo of 37.
Set to chase 183, Ireland amassed the total for the loss of five wickets and a ball to spare, at the back of a strong third-wicket partnership between Harry Tector and Balbirnie.
Balbirnie and Tector knitted an anchoring 77-run partnership for the third wicket to recover Ireland from a dismal start.
Tector perished in the 13th over after scoring 36 off 27 deliveries while Balbirnie carried his bat all the way through to the 19th over to put Ireland in touching distance.
He top-scored for Ireland with 77 off 55 deliveries, peppered with 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Pakistan and Ireland next face each other in the second T20I of the three-match series at the same venue on Sunday.