On a cold and blustery morning Pakistan won the toss and despite a green looking wicket decided to bat first.

Pakistan selected their strongest team so the 2000 spectators, which included a significant Pakistani contingent, will get their first look at the tallest player ever to play international cricket, the 7 foot 1 inch tall fast bowler Mohammad Irfan.

Ireland was also at full strength with the exception of the suspended John Mooney who was replaced by Andrew White.

Pakistan made a very cautious start against a tight opening spell by Johnston and Murtagh which yielded just 32 runs from the first 12 overs which was punctuated by a massive 6 over the pavilion by Jamshaid. He then had to retire in the 10th over following a blow on the knee from a Trent Johnston delivery.

The introduction of Alex Cusack, bowling on his home ground, resulted in the first breakthrough when Stirling took a sharp slip catch to dismiss Imran Farhat for 9.

Four rain breaks which reduced the match to 47 overs disrupted Ireland momentum but did not phase Pakistan as Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq put together a largely untroubled partnership of 188.

Both batsmen produced an array of wristy shots which included 21 fours and 2 sixes. As hard as they tried the Irish bowlers lacked the spark that we are normally accustomed to seeing from them.

Even the fielding was comparatively lacklustre. While Cusack and Kevin O’Brien each took 2 wickets they went for over 6 and 8 runs per over respectively as Hafeez in particular punished any delivery that was marginally offline.

Because of the reduced number of overs, Ireland under the Duckworth Lewis system, require a formidable 276 runs to achieve their first home victory against a major country.

Odran Flynn

©INPHO/Presseye/Rowland White