Rizwan and Fakhar lead Pakistan to level series against Ireland
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Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman formed a formidable partnership, amassing 140 runs off just 78 balls for the third wicket, propelling Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory over Ireland in the second T20I in Dublin.
Fakhar's blistering knock of 78 runs from 40 deliveries, complemented by Rizwan's unbeaten 75 off 46, paved the way for victory, with Azam Khan's late surge of sixes sealing the win and leveling the series 1-1.
After the early dismissals of the openers, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, Pakistan found themselves at 13 for 2 in pursuit of Ireland's target of 194.
However, Rizwan showcased his prowess during the powerplay, blending aggressive slog sweeps with calculated placement, while Zaman settled in and unleashed his attacking strokes. Despite a couple of dropped catches, Pakistan faced minimal resistance en route to victory.
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Earlier in the match, Pakistan's renowned left-arm pace duo, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir, struggled to contain Ireland's batsmen.
Although Shaheen managed to pick up wickets, he faced resistance from Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling during the powerplay.
Despite dismissing both players in his second over, Shaheen continued to face challenges, particularly from Curtis Campher, who capitalized on a fine leg being up and punished Shaheen with boundaries.
In the latter overs, Gareth Delany further punished Afridi and Amir, as Ireland accumulated 29 runs in the final two overs, propelling their total past 190. Despite their efforts, Afridi and Amir finished with combined figures of 8-0-93-4, highlighting the resilience of the Irish batting lineup.
