Andrew Balbirnie emerged as the hero for Ireland with a brilliant 77, helping his side to the team’s first victory over Pakistan in 17 years as they won the opening Twenty20 international by five wickets in Dublin on Friday. This is Ireland’s first win against Pakistan in T20Is. The opener’s influential knock was crucial as Ireland chased down the target of 183 with a ball to spare. Victory gave Ireland a 1-0 lead in a three-match series against a Pakistan side they will also face in the group stage of next month’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. Reacting to what was just Ireland’s second win against Pakistan following their shock triumph at the 2007 50-over World Cup, Shoaib Akhtar and Junaid Khan were left fuming.

Pakistan skipper and star batsman Babar Azam top-scored for the tourists on Friday with 57 in a total of 182-6 that also featured Saim Ayub‘s 45. Former Pakistan stars, Akhtar and Junaid, shared strong reactions on social media to the defeat.

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) May 10, 2024

We need to seriously check out what mistakes are being made. With such a big event coming up, the team is struggling. First we only managed to level the series with a weaker New Zealand side and now we have lost our first t20 against Ireland. Some serious discussion needed.

— Junaid khan (@JunaidkhanREAL) May 10, 2024

“We will get better when we will try to play good cricket. The players must think about the team and we will continue to lose if things stay like this,” said Kamran Akmal on his YouTube channel.

“I am seeing that players are prioritising personal goals which is not good for the side. The team management will soon identify this,” he added

“I didn’t watch the last over. (I) went to the tent and put a towel over my head,” said Balbirnie, who shared a third-wicket stand of 77 with Harry Tector, at the presentation ceremony.

“I felt it was my job to get the team over the line… Harry said if we could bat normally till the 13th over, we could get the runs. That was a partnership which set it up.”

Azam, meanwhile, absolved his bowlers of blame for the defeat.

“I think 190 would have been a par score,” he said.

“We lost in the fielding and batting. (I) don’t think we executed the plans. Few fielding lapses cost us.

“We attacked in the first six overs but didn’t finish well.”

Ireland needed 40 to win from the last four overs, with Abbas Afridi dismissing George Dockrell for 24.

Next over, with Ireland requiring another 28 from 17 balls, Shadab Khan gave Balbirnie a reprieve by failing to hold a tough chance.

Come the penultimate over, Ireland’s target was down to 19.

But Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled Balbirnie with a low full toss to end the opener’s impressive 55-ball innings, which featured 10 fours and two sixes.

With Ireland needing 11 off the last over, Curtis Campher under-edged a boundary off Abbas and eventually sealed victory with a leg bye.

The teams meet again in Dublin on Sunday and Tuesday.

With AFP inputs