Player of the Match
Player of the Match

2.10pm Ireland have made a mighty good fist of this low total, but ran out of gas in the end as Stirling had no option but to turn to his spinners to make up for overs. They went all in with pace through much of the innings in search of wickets, and were well and truly in the game for most parts of their defence. Babar Azam stood like a rock and absorbed all the pressure, and was there in the end when the winning runs were hit.

At one point, it seemed as if this was Ireland's game to lose. But the 33-run stand between Babar and Abbas brought them close, before Shaheen's big hitting sealed the deal. Not sure how morale-boosting this win is, but they'll now have to prepare to face the wrath of a nation whose anger has been bubbling up following their group stage exit.

Already there's chatter that Babar may not continue as captain. There's a saga waiting to unfold once the team lands. For now, it's time for Alan and me to head off. Thanks very much for your company. Don't forget we've got two games coming up in less than six hours. Bangladesh take on Nepal, while Netherlands play Sri Lanka. At stake is the final qualifying spot for the Super Eights.

Shaheen Afridi is Player of the Match. "Wicket was good for bowling, we just tried to strike early," he says. "Everyone was looking to bowl fuller, tried to hit our areas. That finish is good. We haven't played the kind of cricket our country demands, have a few areas to improve on. Crowd always come in and support us, they've done some throughout the World Cup. It's tough [the result] but thanks to the fans."

Paul Stirling, Ireland captain: "Think so, played well I patches, start of the day didn't go terribly well, they put pressure on us early on. Proud of the fight we've shown, 30 for 5 to get that score, wasn't too far away. It's getting that balance right. T20 we probably haven't got that this time around. It's been a difficult couple of weeks, go back regroup and see if we can come back stronger."

Babar Azam, the winning captain: "Yes we finished well, we took early wickets with the ball. With the bat we didn't finish well. Lost back to back wickets, got over the line in the end. I think with the bowling, conditions suit our bowlers, in batting few mistakes in USA, India matches, when you lose wickets pressure is on you. Let's see, what team needs, I'll be okay with it. Have a good bunch of players, we've to go home, chat and see where we lacked, and then come back. Couldn't finish off close games, as a team we weren't good as a team."

18.5
6
Delany to Shaheen Shah Afridi, SIX, seals victory with a six! Shaheen has clobbered this way over wide long-on! Once again premeditates by taking a step across and then gets down on one knee to swing it with all his might. Got it right off the middle and it sailed away.
18.4
1
Delany to Babar Azam, 1 run, eased down to long-on as they jog the single
18.3
1
Delany to Shaheen Shah Afridi, 1 run, dropped! Tough chance for Stirling. Shaheen swung across the line to get a thick edge off this wrong'un, Stirling leapt high and got his fingertips to it at szlip but couldn't hold on
18.3
1w
Delany to Shaheen Shah Afridi, 1 wide, tosses it up wide outside his hitting arc, Shaheen swings and misses
18.2
6
Delany to Shaheen Shah Afridi, SIX, wow, is that the blow that seals the game? Shaheen read the googly and took a step across to get closer to the length and swung through cleanly to hit it way over long-on

Jainendra: "17.1 Third umpire taking so much time when the impact was clearly way outside off, is absolutely mind boggling." -- Totally.

18.1
1
Delany to Babar Azam, 1 run, squeezed down to long-on for a single

END OF OVER:
18 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 95/7 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.27, RRR: 6.00)

  • Shaheen Shah Afridi0 (2b)
  • Babar Azam30 (32b)
  • Ben White2-0-11-1
  • Gareth Delany1-0-3-0
17.6
0
White to Shaheen Shah Afridi, no run, the wrong'un bounces appreciably, Shaheen is right back inside the crease as he defends
17.5
0
White to Shaheen Shah Afridi, no run, the ball spins back in sharply off a length as Shaheen goes back to defend
17.4
W
White to Abbas Afridi, OUT, heaved straight to long-on! Babar smashes his pads with the bat in frustration at the non-striker's end. Generously tossed up outside off, Abbas stepped out to clear the straight boundary but ended up dragging it to the fielder. Adair was ice cool at the ropes as he took it comfortably.

Abbas Afridi c sub (GR Adair) b White 17 (32m 21b 1x4 1x6) SR: 80.95

17.3
1
White to Babar Azam, 1 run, cut away to deep point
17.2
1
White to Abbas Afridi, 1 run, looks to pull this long-hop over midwicket, ends up chipping it over the bowler's head
17.1
0
White to Abbas Afridi, no run, appeal for lbw as Afridi gets across the stumps to sweep. He's hit on the pad but the impact may have been well outside off. Third umpire checks as Ireland review. And replays confirm impact was way outside off

END OF OVER:
17 | 3 Runs | PAK: 93/6 (14 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.47, RRR: 4.66)

  • Abbas Afridi16 (18b)
  • Babar Azam29 (31b)
  • Gareth Delany1-0-3-0
  • Curtis Campher4-0-24-2
16.6
1
Delany to Abbas Afridi, 1 run, hit back against the turn, down to long-on
16.5
0
Delany to Abbas Afridi, no run, nearly had him! Abbas has a go at that tossed up delivery, there's some sound as the keeper collects. Maybe the sound was of the bat hitting the turf. Are they going up? It's an umpire's review. Not out it is. Replays confirm there's no spike as ball passed the bat.
16.4
1
Delany to Babar Azam, 1 run, eased down to long-off as Babar jogs the single
16.3
1
Delany to Abbas Afridi, 1 run, squeezed to backward square leg for a single

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st23Mohammad RizwanSaim Ayub
2nd16Mohammad RizwanBabar Azam
3rd13Babar AzamFakhar Zaman
4th5Babar AzamUsman Khan
5th0Babar AzamShadab Khan
6th5Imad WasimBabar Azam
7th33Babar AzamAbbas Afridi
8th16Babar AzamShaheen Shah Afridi

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Super Eights, Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND33062.017
AFG3214-0.305
AUS3122-0.331
BAN3030-1.709
Super Eights, Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA33060.599
ENG32141.992
WI31220.963
USA3030-3.906
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND43071.137
USA42150.127
PAK42240.294
CAN4123-0.493
IRE4031-1.293
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS44082.791
ENG42153.611
SCOT42151.255
NAM4132-2.585
OMA4040-3.062
Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
WI44083.257
AFG43161.835
NZ42240.415
UGA4132-4.51
PNG4040-1.268
Group D
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA44080.47
BAN43160.616
SL41230.863
NED4132-1.358
NEP4031-0.542