IRE v PAK, 1st ODI Review: Whirlwind ton from Sharjeel Khan sinks Ireland

The visiting Pakistan team were high on confidence as they took on Ireland in the first of the 2-match ODI series at Dublin. Pakistan had drawn level with England in the Test series, and had already proved to be a team to beat in the overcast conditions. On the other hand, it wasn’t a merry story for Ireland, a team that got some serious drubbing at the hands of visiting Sri Lanka last month.

It was pretty much the same story yet again as the visitors knocked down the hosts in all departments. Pakistan put on a mammoth 337 runs on the board, which never looked to be in reach for the hosts. It was Sharjeel Khan, who almost single handedly ripped apart the Irish bowling. The wrecker-in-chief plundered 152 runs in just 86 balls to seal the game for his side. In a rain curtailed game that made it a 47-over-a-side match, Ireland rarely had a moment of brilliance and were thoroughly outplayed.

Earlier in the day, it was Ireland skipper William Porterfield, who won the toss and opted to field first. In walked Pakistan openers Azhar Ali and Sharjeel Khan. Ireland had a dream start as they got the priced scalp of opposition skipper Ali in the 4th over of the match. Barry McCarthy was the beneficiary, dismissing Ali for just 1 run.

Mohammad Hafeez joined Sharjeel in the middle. Sharjeel Khan looked to be in the top gear right from the word go. Despite a slow start that saw Pakistan score just 47 runs in the first 10 overs, Sharjeel soon decided to up the ante. It was in the 15th over that the young man brought up his half century and looked good for more. On the other hand, Hafeez’s stay at the crease looked uncomfortable.

His stay ended when Peter Chase made him drive one straight into the hands of backward point. Hafeez’s resistance of 37 came of 59 deliveries. Babar Azam was the new man in to join Sharjeel, who seemed to hit every delivery out of the park. It was in the 24th over when Sharjeel flicked Paul Stirling for a boundary to reach his maiden ODI ton. His effort came in just 61 balls as his team mates cheered in joy.

The ton was the fourth fastest ODI ton for Pakistan and the fastest ‘non-Shahid Afridi’ ODI ton for Pakistan. Sharjeel kept going and took just 25 balls to reach the 150-run mark. Meanwhile, Azam also struck a couple of boundaries during his run-a-ball 29 before becoming McCarthy’s 2nd wicket of the day in the 30th over. In his very next over, McCarthy bagged another one – the big fish Sharjeel Khan this time around. Sharjeel’s knock of 152 came off 86 balls and was studded with 16 fours and 9 sixes. Pakistan had already put up 226/4 on the board by the end of 32 overs.

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Sarfraz Ahmed had a rough day as he could add just 2 on the scorecard. The fall of 3 quick wickets saw Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Nawaz join hands at the crease. The duo took a heavy toll on the bowlers and brought up their respective half centuries en route their 105 run stand for the 6^th wicket. Ireland had a chance when Nawaz hit one in the air and was dropped. Nawaz raced to his maiden half century, but only to be dismissed on the very next ball by McCarthy.

Nawaz hit 53 off 50 balls with 7 fours. On the other hand, Malik continued his onslaught and took the score to 337/6 by the end of stipulated 47 overs with an unbeaten 57 off 37 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. For the hosts, McCarthy’s 4/62 was the pick of the bowlers while Tim Murtagh gave away just 38 runs in his spell of 10 overs, on a day when Irish bowlers leaked runs at will.

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The run chase for the hosts largely depended on how the swashbuckling opener Paul Stirling played. However, it didn’t turn out to be fruitful for the hosts and Striling made the long walk back after getting a duck. Mohammad Amir had announced himself in the match. His opening partner, Ed Joyce, had a struggling 28 ball stay at the crease before falling to veteran Umar Gul for just 9.

Wickets kept tumbling with skipper Porterfield (13), Niall O’Brien (10) and Kevin O’Brien (4) falling cheaply. It looked grey for the hosts as their batsmen put up a no show in the middle. Struggling on 51/5 never helps chasing down totals like 337. Gary Wilson provided some resistance, scoring 21 off 33, but only to delay the unavoidable.

Ireland were reeling on 82 for 7 in 23 overs when Imad Wasim had the cherry in hand. Wasim shattered the wood work thrice in space of 4 balls in the 24th over to knock the hosts down for a paltry score of 82. In the process, Wasim bagged a five wicket haul, scalping 5/14 in just 5.4 overs. Umar Gul bagged 3/23 in his 5 overs.

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Pakistan thumped Ireland by a huge margin of 255 runs to take 1-0 lead in the series. The two sides now meet on August 20 for the 2nd and the final ODI.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan 337/6 in 47 overs (Sharjeel 152, Malik 57*, McCarthy 4/62, Murtagh 1/38)

Ireland 82/10 in 23.4 overs (Wilson 21, McBrine 14*, Wasim 5/14, Gul 3/23)

Watch: Highlights of Ireland v Pakistan, 1st ODI: