IRE VS PAK 1ST T20I

Right then, Ireland registered a memorable victory at Dublin defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets in a convincing manner. They ascend 1-0 in this 3-match T20I series. Pakistan will be disappointed with their performance and will have to focus on improving their fielding and overall intensity for a strong comeback in the second T20I which will be played on Sunday, 12th May. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But as always, you can join us for the pre-match build-up a lot sooner. Till then, cheers, and take care!

Andy Balbirnie wins the Player of the Match award for his incredible knock of 77 from 55 deliveries (10 fours and 2 sixes). He starts by saying that he felt that he could take his side home. Mentions that it is great to see the youngsters stepping up. States that he and Harry Tector planned to keep it simple till the 13th over and then try to up the ante. Informs that this is a great win for them as a cricketing nation.

Paul Stirling, the skipper of Ireland says they are absolutely delighted to begin the summer with a victory. On being asked about bowling first, he says that the pitch conditions are comparatively different from Pakistan's flat wickets. Credits his batters for being brave enough in the chase. Adds that Balbirnie played a stellar knock and was timing the ball well. Says that they have had good games recently and getting it over the line this time again was fantastic. Ends up by saying they will practice after a day off and will look to maintain the momentum in the next game.

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan is in for a chat. Babar Azam explains how he felt their start wasn't that good. Adds that the pitch was quick, and maybe 190 would've been a better score. States that they lost the game in bowling and fielding. A few mishaps let the game slip away from them.

The presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Ireland decided to put Pakistan in to bat first. Pakistan didn't have the best start, losing Mohammad Rizwan early. However, after a slow start, both Saim Ayub and captain Babar Azam picked up the pace nicely. Azam reached his 35th T20I half-century before getting out. Ayub also played a significant innings, scoring 45 runs. However, a quick collapse in the mid-overs slowed down Pakistan's scoring. But then, Iftikhar's impressive cameo towards the end revitalized their innings, helping them post a respectable total on the scoreboard. In the chase, Irish batters fought hard, but also the pendulum swung in the favour of both sides at times, eventually going in the hosts' favor, thanks to Andy Balbirnie's 77 and of course, Curtis Campher's valiant finish.

Pakistan's bowlers capitalized on their team's strong batting performance. Shaheen Afridi's initial spell applied the squeeze, while Naseem Shah's early breakthrough added to Ireland's troubles. Abbas Afridi's dismissal of Tucker further solidified Pakistan's dominant start. Pakistan showed some sloppiness in the field, allowing a few boundaries to slip through their grasp that should have been routine stops. Pakistan's momentum took a hit as they conceded quick runs during the mid-overs, allowing Ireland to stage a recovery. While Imad Wasim managed to pick up a wicket in the process, Pakistan struggled to capitalize on the breakthrough and continued to leak runs. However, Abbas Afridi struck in his second spell and the pendulum swung again in the favour of the tourists as Shaheen Afridi, in the penultimate over dismissed Balbirnie. But in the end, one would say, it was the insipid fielding effort from the tourists that made the difference and Pakistan surely felt the brunt of it.

IRELAND SCRIPT HISTORY AS THEY GO 1-0 UP IN THIS THREE-MATCH T20I SERIES! What a brave chase this has been. A game that went right down to the wire but eventually, it was this brave Irish side who robbed this one from Pakistan. Ireland's pursuit of a challenging total didn't kick off as smoothly as they'd hoped. Despite Paul Stirling's early boundaries, his departure in the Powerplay and Lorcan Tucker's quick exit compounded into early trouble. Andy Balbirnie took on the responsibility of steadying the ship, punctuating his innings with timely boundaries to keep the run rate manageable. Harry Tector's contribution further bolstered the partnership. The two kept the scoreboard ticking as they relied on drop and run, converting ones in twos, and also punished the poor deliveries of course. Tector fell at the wrong time but George Dockrell came out swinging from the first ball, launching a counterattack. Andy Balbirnie's pivotal 77 came to an end in the second last over but dramatically Curtis Campher came in as a saviour for Ireland who helped them to chase 11 off the last over.

LEG BYE! What a win for Ireland. A historic victory for them. A length ball, angled into the pads. Curtis Campher looks to pull it away but misses. It brushes the thigh pads and goes to the keeper. Gareth Delany is early into his run, this was bound to happen. The boys cross and seal a huge win for the hosts. Ireland win the match by 5 wickets.

FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Abbas Afridi fires in a full ball, around middle and leg. Curtis Campher whips it towards deep square leg off the inner half. Naseem Shah rushes to his left from fine leg, and puts in a dive but the ball goes on to crash into the ropes. The crowd erupts here. Although, Naseem Shah has stayed down, past the ropes, a substitute fielder on the field now.

It is full, on middle and leg. Curtis Campher flicks it down the park towards long on. Shaheen Afridi is too slow to get to the ball and the batters take two runs. 5 needed now in three balls.

Back of a length, outside off. Campher looks to cut it away but misses it.

FOUR! A no-look boundary? This is extraordinary. Abbas Afridi serves a bumper, outside off, this one jags back into the batter. Curtis Campher sways back, but gets his blade up. It catches the outer half and runs down to the deep third boundary.

Abbas Afridi (3-0-26-2) will bowl the last over of this nail-biting chase. 11 needed off the last 6.

Short ball, on top of middle. Curtis Campher stands tall and pulls it down the park for a single. 11 runs needed in the final over. This is turning out to be a nail-biting affair.

FOUR! What a strike. Curtis Campher on his very first delivery, reverse-scoops Shaheen Afridi for a boundary. It is a yorker-length delivery, in the blockhole. Curtis Campher sets himself up nicely and gets four for it.

Curtis Campher is in at number 7.