Pakistan edge past Ireland to leave T20 World Cup with consolation victory

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir shared five wickets to fall in the powerplay as Ireland's top order was blown away, but Andrew Balbirnie's men almost wrestled a win from the jaws of defeat

Lauderhill: Ireland 106-9, Pakistan 111-7 - Pakistan win by three wickets

Pakistan's new-ball bowlers blew away Ireland's top order as Babar Azam's men ensured they left a disappointing T20 World Cup with a victory despite a collapse of their own.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir took five powerplay wickets after winning the toss as Florida was finally able to stage a match at the fourth time of asking after the first three scheduled matches at Lauderhill were washed out.

In friendly bowling conditions, the left-arm duo were too good for Ireland, who found themselves four wickets down after three overs, with Shaheen dismissing Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector for ducks, as well as Lorcan Tucker for just two. Paul Stirling (1) edged behind to Amir.

George Dockrell got a couple of boundaries away before chipping back to Amir, while Curtis Campher skied to cover as Ireland collapsed in a heap.

Neither side could reach the Super Eight stage, with Ireland having lost against Canada and India, while Pakistan were beaten by USA and India.

^{Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan collided as the former caught Mark Adair (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)}

USA had already joined India in the next phase courtesy of a Friday washout against Ireland that would otherwise have acted as a winner-takes-all clash.

Instead, there was little riding on this clash, but Pakistan were ruthless nonetheless early on.

From 32 for 6, Ireland recovered manfully, Gareth Delany leading the way with 31 – including three sixes – alongside Mark Adair, who offered the necessary support in a 46-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Josh Little also contributed an unbeaten 22 to ensure that Ireland batted their 20 overs and reached three figures. There was drama along the way, though; Adair was caught on the rope by Shaheen, but only as the Pakistan quick collided with teammate Usman Khan. That was the second of three wickets for Imad Wasim, who found turn in a miserly spell of 3 for 8.

Pakistan looked like chasing 107 with ease, but a collapse of four for 10 in 17 balls threatened to end their campaign on a dismal note.

Campher and Barry McCarthy shared four middle-order wickets, and when Imad slapped a cut straight at a short backward point, Ireland looked on course to defend their total.

But Babar saw his team through to the close, finishing unbeaten on 32*, with Shaheen alongside him. He took Delany for two sixes in the 19th over to see his side home.

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