World Cup 2015, Highlights: Pakistan Beat Ireland by Seven Wickets, Face Australia in Quarters
Sarfraz Ahmed's unbeaten 101 guides Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over Ireland in their final Pool B game. They face Australia in quarters. Catch all the highlights of the match here.
Pakistan chase down Ireland's total of 237 in the 47th over. Catch all the highlights of the match here. (Scorecard | Standings)
16.40 (IST): It's all over! Pakistan beat Ireland by seven wickets to advance to quarters. They face Australia in Adelaide. Sarfraz Ahmed's maiden ODI century has take Pakistan through.
16.02 (IST): OUT! Misbah falls to a bizarre hit-wicket dismissal! Misbah's backfoot dislodges a bail while he was trying to guide a length delivery down to third man. Pakistan 208/3 (38.2)
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15.47 (IST): Pakistan fans, however, seem to believe that the quarterfinal berth is not far away.
15.43 (IST): Pakistan are cruising but Ireland fans haven't given up just as yet.
Pakistan is on top in Adelaide but Ireland fans believe! #cwc15 #PAKvIRE https://t.co/KnEmsYUHUb
- Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 15, 2015
15.30 (IST): Sarfraz and Misbah have done well not to let madness take over their method in this chase. Despite two wickets in quick succession, Pakistan remain in driver's seat, 175/2 (33 overs)
15.06 (IST): Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq walks out at the halfway stage. Pakistan need 111 more off 150 balls.
14.59 (IST): Terrible mix up! Haris Sohail is run out, courtesy poor calling between him and Sarfraz Ahmed. Sohail didn't look too happy and was seen mouthing "Mera call tha" (It was my call). Pakistan 126/2 (24.3)
14.53 (IST): First wicket! Ahmed Shehzad pulls one straight to Ed Joyce at mid-on off Thompson. He goes for 63. Pakistan 120/1 in 22.4 overs
14.42 (IST): Sarfraz Ahmed gets his fifty too! It's his 2nd in ODIs, coming off 58 balls. Pakistan 111/0 in 20 overs
14.33 (IST): 100 up for Pakistan! Shehzad (50) and Sarfraz (46) have put Pakistan on course for a win here. Need 138 more off 31.5 overs.
14.22 (IST): FIFTY for Ahmed Shehzad! He has done very well here! After steering past early nerves, Shehzad has combined with Sarfraz to put Pakistan's chase on track. He gets his fifty off 52 balls. Pakistan 95/0 (16.2)
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13.57 (IST): Pakistan openers - Sarfraz (25) and Shehzad (36) - are doing well to shift gears here. Pakistan 65/0 (10 overs)
13.51 (IST): Good signs for Pakistan here! This is already their best opening partnership and the best showing in powerplay overs. 48/0 (9 overs)
13.46 (IST): 14 runs off Thompson's over! Pakistan finally get a move on as Sarfraz Ahmed scores two fours in the eighth over off short and wide deliveries. Pakistan 42/0 (8 overs)
13.40 (IST): This exemplary bowling from Ireland. Pakistan are crawling along at 22/0 in 6 overs. Just one four in the innings so far.
13.20 (IST): Tidy start from Alex Cusack and John Mooney here. Pakistan cautious early on, 6/0 in 3 overs.
12.51 (IST): Over to the Pakistan batsmen now to carry them to the knockout stage. Ireland will come out and fancy their chances against a side not very highly reputed for their batting in this tournament. Enthralling run-chase beckons soon.
12.43 (IST): End of the innings! Ireland have been bowled out for 237 by Pakistan. After Porterfield's century, there was fabulous death-overs bowling on display from Pakistan as just 49 runs were conceded in the last 10 overs.
12.35 (IST): John Mooney attempts to scoop one over fine leg but ends up hitting the ball onto his throat. Pakistan players quick to check on him. He looks ok. Ireland 229/8 (49 overs)
12.26 (IST): Kevin O'Brien is gone! Wahab Riaz strikes with a short delivery! O'Brien sees it as an opportunity to cut loose but fails to connect well. A top-edge lands in the safe hands of Sohaib Maqsood deep square leg. Ireland 216/8 (47.1)
12.15 (IST): Pakistan have pulled this game back brilliantly! Ireland 207/7 in 45 overs with two new batsmen - Kevin O'Brien and John Mooney - in the middle. How much can get they get in last five overs?
12.10 (IST): Seven DOWN! After a solid start, Ireland are losing the plot here! Stuart Thompson attempts a pull shot but a leading edge is taken comfortably by Umar Akmal at covers. Ireland 204/7 (43.5)
11.56 (IST): SIX DOWN! Gary Wilson (29) is gone! He attempts an expansive upper cut off a short delivery from Sohail but fails to clear Wahab Riaz at deep third man. Ireland 189/6 (40.3)
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11.45 (IST): William Porterfield is gone! His fabulous innings ends on 107 as he mistimes and on-drive and Afridi covers good ground to take a smart catch on the edge of the circle. Ireland 182/5 (38.5)
11.07 (IST): Another wicket goes down! Balbirnie attemps an audacious sweep off Haris Sohail and top-edges it to Afridi at short fine leg. Porterfield is swiftly running out of partners. Ireland 134/4 (29.4)
11.00 (IST): Cricket Ireland, meawhile, don't seem amused with the commentators. They have a few things to set the records straight about
For clarification, as the commentatorsare only mentioning Pakistan...if game is tie Ireland will play NZ in quarters if we win, we play Aus
- Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) March 15, 2015
10.49 (IST): At the halfway stage, Ireland 115/3 in 25 overs vs Pakistan in a knockout fixture. How much more can Ireland get from here?
10.24 (IST): Oh dear! Ireland are three down! Niall O'Brien drives uppishly but can't beat the an acrobatic leap from Umar Akmal at covers. Ireland 86/3 (16.4) vs Pakistan
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10.15 (IST): FIFTY for Porterfield! It's his 12th in ODIs. He has big job to do today in this knockout fixture. Ireland 84/2 (15.4) vs Pakistan
09.52 (IST): Meanwhile in Napier, West Indies have crushed UAE to virtually confirm their spot in Quarters. They are now ahead of Pakistan and Ireland by NRR, making this game a knockout clash. West Indies will be through unless Pakistan vs Ireland ends in tie/no result.
09.50 (IST): GONE! Ed Joyce is dismissed by Wahab Riaz. Joyce attempted a pull from outside off and the top edge goes to Umar Akmal behind the stumps. Ireland 56/2 (12.3)
09.40 (IST): William Porterfield (34*) is leading Ireland's charge vs Pakistan. They reach 47/1 in 10 overs.
09.30 (IST): Ireland have knocked Pakistan out before (2007), can they do it again?
SIX! Porterfield sends it way over the boundary! #IRE 29-1 LIVE: http://t.co/U0Btai9hKZ #PAKvIRE pic.twitter.com/ujSYMfRfsO
- Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 15, 2015
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09.10 (IST): First Wicket! Paul Stirling is trapped leg before by Ehsan Adil. Stirling's poor World Cup continues. He plays across the line and is struck on the pads. The umpire was quick to raise his finger and after some consultation with skipper Porterfield, Stirling walked off without taking a review. Ireland 11/1 (3.3)
0846: All eyes would be on the match in Napier where West Indies are cruising towards UAE's target of 176. (Updates)
0840: Teams -
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil
Ireland: Porterfield, Stirling, Joyce, N O'Brien, Balbirnie, Wilson, K O'Brien, Mooney, Thompson, Cusack and GH Dockrell
0830: Toss! William Porterfield wins and chooses to bat first. No changes in his team. Big news from Pakistan camp is Mohammad Irfan is injured. Ehsan Adil replaces the pacer. Younis Khan will miss this match too and Haris Sohail comes is included in playing XI.
It was on March 17, 2007, St Patrick's Day that Ireland stunned Pakistan in a group match at Sabina Park, Jamaica. The shock loss knocked Pakistan out of the tournament but a day later their coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in the bathroom of his hotel room in Kingston. Ahead of their clash at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, both teams will be haunted by those memories. (Bob Woolmer's Memories Return as Pakistan Take on Ireland)
Apart from that, the winner of this game is assured of a place in the quarter-final. That's not all. The one who loses can also qualify but for that they need UAE to pull off an unlikely victory over the West Indies. (Pakistan as Inspired as World Cup-Winning Side of 1992)
Ireland need a win because their run rate is much worse than both Pakistan and West Indies. Pakistan can afford to lose but then their qualification will depend on the net run-rate comparison with the West Indies. However, if the West Indies-UAE game is washed out, both Ireland and Pakistan can sail into the next round. None of the teams though, will like to get into the mathematical complications. They will like to secure a place in the quarters with a win on the field. Ed Joyce has already dubbed this game as their 'biggest' ever, while Misbah-ul-Haq has urged his team not to waste their 'new life' after a wretched start to the tournament.
#WorldCup2015 Third umpire says not out. Snicko did not show a clear edge and #PAK have lost their review http://t.co/hfgHmVE039
http://t.co/EyEBvUYNpZ