In the final match of Group A in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan faced Ireland in a dead rubber at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida. The match saw Pakistan emerge victorious, winning by 39 runs, as they looked to restore some pride after a disappointing tournament.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Journey
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign has been marred by inconsistency and a lack of adaptability to the conditions in the United States. The team suffered a significant upset against the USA and could not chase down a run-a-ball target against India in their second group A encounter. This led to Pakistan being confined to introspection and reevaluation of its T20 strategy.
The team’s batting order has been a major concern, with the fast bowlers performing exceptionally well but the batters failing to deliver. The slower pitches in the USA exposed their weaknesses, and the team’s inability to adapt to the conditions was a major factor in their early exit from the tournament.
Pakistan’s Squad and Changes
Pakistan made one change to their lineup for this match, bringing in fast bowler Abbas Afridi in place of Nassem Shah. This decision was surprising, given Pakistan’s struggles on unpredictable pitches, but it did allow Abbs to showcase his skills.
Ireland’s Squad and Changes
Ireland introduced leg-spinner Ben White into their lineup, replacing Craig Young. This change was aimed at bolstering their bowling attack and providing an additional option against Pakistan’s strong batting lineup.
Match Highlights
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first a decision that proved to be the right one. Ireland’s batting lineup struggled to get going, with only a few players managing to score in double digits. The Irish team was eventually bowled out for 95 runs, with Pakistan fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi taking two wickets each.
Pakistan’s batting lineup, led by captain Babar Azam, then took to the field. The team scored 134 runs, with Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan contributing 25 and 23 runs respectively. Pakistan’s strong batting performance ensured that they took a 39-run lead, which proved to be enough to secure a consolation victory.
Key Performances
- Babar Azam: The Pakistan captain scored 34 runs and led his team to be consolation victory.
- Haris Rauf: The fast bowler took two wickets and was instrumental in restricting Ireland’s batting lineup.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: The fast bowler also took two wickets and provided strong support to Haris Rauf.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s win over Ireland marked a small consolation for the team after a disappointing tournament. The match highlighted the need for Pakitan to adapt to different conditions and to improve their batting performance. The team’s fast bowlers, particularly Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi, were instrumental in securing the win.
For Ireland, the match was an opportunity to end their campaign on a high note, but they ultimately fell short. The team’s batting lineup struggled to get going, and their bowling attack was unable to contain Pakistan’s strong batting performance.
Overall, the match was a fitting end to the T20 World Cup 2024 for both teams, with Pakistan emerging victorious and Ireland bowling out without a win.
