Pakistan defeated Ireland by 39 runs to enter the semi-finals. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Akmal and Hasan provided a solid start to the innings. Akmal scored 57 off 51 balls. After Hasan got out for 23 runs, Afridi came to the wicket and showed some form in batting. He was looking good for a big innings before he was dismissed for 24 runs. Akmal held fort at one end. No other batsman got big innings. But there were a few useful partnerships. McCallan took 2 wickets for 26 runs. Pakistan finished on 159/5, probably 15 runs short. 

A target of 160 runs was always going to be difficult for Ireland against the likes of Ajmal and Gul. Niall O’Brien was out early. Porterfield scored 40 runs. But the team was always behind the asking rate. The Irish batsmen, trying to up the tempo, were dismissed one after the other. No Irish batsman seemed to trouble the bowlers. 

The bowlers bowled a good line and length. Ajmal continued to impress with the ball. He took 4 wickets for 19 runs. Gul who bowled superbly against New Zealand, too contributed. He took 2 wickets for 19 runs. Ireland finished on 120/9. Pakistan is getting the act together at the right time. The team has performed better than expectations and cannot be taken lightly by other teams.

Pakistan – 159/5 (Akmal 57, Afridi 24, McCallan 2/26)

Ireland – 120/9 (Porterfield 40, Ajmal 4/19)

Result – Pakistan won by 39 runs

Man-of-the-match – Kamran Akmal

Venue – The Oval, London (June 15, 2009)