IRE vs PAK: Andrew Balbirnie told that he did not watch the last over, let’s find out why?
Andy Balbirnie: A bilateral series is being played between Pakistan and Ireland in preparation for the T20 World Cup 2024. On May 10, the first match of the 3-match T20 series was played in Dublin, which was very memorable for the cricket world.
Coming to bat first, Pakistan team scored 182 runs in 20 overs. Babar Azam scored 57 runs on 43 balls for Pakistan. Along with him, Saim Ayub contributed 45 runs on 29 balls. And in the middle order, Fakhar Zaman played an inning of 20 runs in 18 balls. Apart from these, all the batsmen failed.
Andrew Balbirnie (Andy Balbirnie) thoroughly defeated Pakistani bowlers
Ireland had a poor start to chase the target. Opener Paul Stirling was out after scoring 8 runs and then Tucker was out after scoring 4 runs. Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Taker took over the innings after two wickets fell for 27 runs.
There was a partnership of 77 runs between the two. After this, Taker was out after scoring 36 runs. But Andrew Balbirnie came in a different mood. He scored 77 runs for the team and lost his wicket in the 19th over.
Ireland needed 11 runs to win in the last over and then…
Ireland needed 11 runs in the last over. Curtis Camper hit a four on the very first ball. Then he leveled the match by hitting two runs on the third ball and a four on the fourth ball. Runs were scored due to leg bye on the 5th ball and Ireland got a historic victory.
There was a lot of pressure in the Ireland dressing room in the last over. Ireland was afraid that they might lose the match after working so hard to bring the team to this point. At the same time, Andrew Balbirnie told that he did not even see the last over. He was sitting in the tent with a wet towel on his head.
Speaking to BBC, Balbirnie said-
“I didn’t see the last over. After getting out, I went into the tent and sat down with a towel over my head. I felt it was my job to make the team win. But Curtis hit great shots which was fun. When we went to bat, Harry said that if we can bat normally till the 13th over, we can achieve the target. We batted the same way and it was a partnership that laid the foundation to win the match.”