1st T20I, Ireland stun Pakistan in Dublin: Key stats
Ireland pulled off a superb victory against Pakistan in the first T20I encounter at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, Dublin, on Friday. Babar Azam's 57 powered Pakistan to 182/6 in 20 overs. Craig Young managed 2/27 for the Irish side. In response, Andrew Balbirnie hammered a powerful 77 as Ireland (183/5) got the job done with one ball to spare.
Babar Azam completes 1,500 runs in away T20I matches
Babar completed a milestone of 1,500 runs in away (home of opposition) T20I matches. The Pakistan cricket team skipper attained the feat with his second run in the contest. As per ESPNcricinfo, playing his 44th away T20I, Babar owns 1,555 runs at 43.19. In addition to a century, the classy batter has 15 fifties in away matches. His strike rate is 130.12.
Babar registers his 100th 50-plus score (T20s)
Babar's 57 consisted eight fours and a six (SR: 132.56). He has raced to 3,880 runs at 41.27 (100s: 3, 50s: 35). Babar became just the fourth player to accomplish 100 50-plus scores in the 20-over format. He has joined Australia's David Warner (110), West Indies legend Chris Gayle (110), and India's talisman Kohli (105). Notably, Babar's tally includes 11 tons and 89 fifties.
Ayub and Iftikhar score important runs
Saim Ayub scored 45 from 27 balls. He hit four fours and three sixes. Ayub was involved in an 85-run stand for the second wicket alongside Babar. Iftikhar Ahmed powered his way with a breezy 37* from 15 balls. He smashed three fours and three sixes. In 50 T20I innings, Iftikhar has raced to 926 runs at 25.72. He owns 59 fours (6s: 42).
Balbirnie smashes his 11th T20I fifty
Playing his 102nd T20I (98 innings), Balbirnie smoked 10 fours and two sixes in his knock of 77 from 55 balls. He has raced to 2,247 runs for Ireland at an average of 23.90. This was his 11th fifty. In 36 home matches, Balbirnie owns 766 runs at 23.93. He hit his fifth fifty. Overall, he has scored 3,683 T20 runs (50s: 20).
Tector and Dockrell smash these records
Harry Tector scored a crucial 36 from 27 balls. He hit three fours and a six. Tector now owns 1,279 T20I runs at 24.13. Notably, he owns 100 fours, becoming the sixth Irishman with this feat. George Dockrell scored 24 from 12 balls. He raced past 1,000 T20I runs (1,001 at 19.25). He is the eighth Ireland batter with 1,000-plus T20I runs.
Key numbers for the Pakistani bowlers
Shaheen Afridi managed 1/26 from his four overs. The left-arm pacer has raced to 82 scalps at 21.14. Playing his 69th T20I, spinner Imad Wasim managed 1/28 from his four overs. He has claimed 67 wickets at 22.10. Abbas Afridi managed 2/36 from 3.5 overs. He has 12 scalps from seven matches at 15.66.
Maiden win for Ireland over Pakistan
Ireland claimed their maiden win over Pakistan in T20Is. This was just the second meeting between the two sides. The previous meeting was at the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009 (15 years ago).
