Pakistan vs Ireland

Pakistan have finished with 159/5 at the end of their 20 overs. It's been a solid batting performance but they would probably feel they should have got some more with the depth in their batting. Kamran Akmal was the stand out performer who scored 57 off 51 balls and brought stability to their innings. Shahzaib Hasan, Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq got off to good strarts but failed to capitalise and convert them into bigger scores. Ireland have a huge task ahead of them and it would be interesting to see their approach to this total.

A Cusack to A Razzaq, Razzaq has lofted that over mid wicket. The batsmen have run through for a single.

A Cusack to A Razzaq, Razzaq drives the ball straight down the ground for a couple to long on.

A Cusack to A Razzaq, Razzaq has lofted it over Mid-on for a couple of runs on this occassion.

A Cusack to A Razzaq, SIX! A half volley in the slot. Razzaq got his front foot out of the way and nailed that a long way over the long off boundary for a maximum.

A Cusack to S Malik, Malik has driven it through the off side for a single.

A Cusack to A Razzaq, A low full toss on off stump, driven to deep mid-wicket for a single.

B Rankin to A Razzaq, Razzaq has driven it straight down the ground. One run added to the total.

B Rankin to S Malik, Driven through the leg side by Malik for a single.

B Rankin to S Malik, Rankin produces another bouncer which was directed at the body and Malik has no answer to it.

B Rankin to A Razzaq, Razzaq shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the backfoot for another single.

B Rankin to S Malik, Driven through the off side by Malik for a single.

B Rankin to S Malik, Malik has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails.

K McCallan to S Malik, Malik drives through the leg side. One run conceded.

K McCallan to S Malik, Malik dances down the track and does well to block the ball.

Shoaib Malik walks out to the middle.

K McCallan to Misbah, OUT! A slower delivery on off stump. Misbah was early into the shot and got a top edge towards the slip region and it was caught by N.O'Brien.

K McCallan to A Razzaq, Driven through the leg side by Razzaq for a single.

K McCallan to Misbah, Misbah gets a bottom edge on that one for a single.

K McCallan to Misbah, SIX! A full toss on off stump. Misbah went down on his knee and clobbered that over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum.

T Johnston to A Razzaq, Razzaq drives the ball straight down the ground.

Abdur Razzaq is the new batsman.

T Johnston to K Akmal, OUT! Akmal was looking to come down the wicket and play a big shot but he missed and Johnston bowled a beauty of a yorker which hit the base of middle.

T Johnston to Misbah, Played through mid-wicket by Misbah for another single.

T Johnston to K Akmal, Akmal plays a sweep shot and they get one.

T Johnston to Misbah, A good yorker dug out towards mid-on for a single.

T Johnston to K Akmal, A full toss on off stump, driven straight back towards long off for a single.

A Cusack to Misbah, FOUR! A full toss on off stump. Misbah drove it superbly through the covers finding the gap to pick up a boundary.

A Cusack to K Akmal, Akmal was getting into position to sweep. Cusack saw him and bowled outside off. Akmal adjusted very well, playing it to third man for a single.

A Cusack to K Akmal, FOUR! A length delivery outside off. Akmal got into position early and lofted that over the covers for a one bounce boundary.

A Cusack to Misbah, Misbah has played it through mid-wicket for a single.

A Cusack to Misbah, Misbah gets a leading edge on that towards long off and they ran hard to pick up a couple.

Kamran Akmal gets to his 50 with that single. It's been a brilliant knock with 4 fours and 1 six.

A Cusack to K Akmal, A length delivery on off which was swept to short fine leg for a single.

R West to K Akmal, Akmal plays a sweep shot towards deep square leg for a single to end the over.

R West to Misbah, Driven through the leg side by Misbah for one more.

R West to K Akmal, Ball hits Akmal low on the pads and they pick up a leg bye.

R West to Misbah, Misbah has played it to the point region and they get a single.

R West to Misbah, Misbah chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump.

R West to K Akmal, Length delivery on off stump and Akmal played that over the man at point, picking up three runs before the return came in.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Played through mid-wicket by Akmal for a single to retain strike.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Flighted delivery on off stump, driven through the covers for a couple of runs.

K McCallan to Misbah, Misbah drives through the leg side and they get another single.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Akmal plays the Square-Cut for one more.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Akmal has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

K McCallan to Misbah, Misbah flicks it away with a wristy shot for a single.

R West to Misbah, This one took the pad and went towards mid-wicket for a leg bye.

R West to Y Khan, OUT! A flighted delivery on middle stump. Khan was looking to slog across the line but missed and had his stumps knocked over.

R West to K Akmal, Akmal has pushed it to the cover region for a single.

R West to K Akmal, FOUR! A flighted delivery outside off. Akmal walked down to the pitch of the ball and drove that inside out over the covers for a boundary.

R West to Y Khan, Khan works it down the leg side for a single.

R West to Y Khan, Khan plays the Square-Cut.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Akmal gets a bottom edge on that one and it almost rolled onto his stumps but he got his foot in the way.

K McCallan to Y Khan, Khan plays a sweep shot and they get a single.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Driven through the leg side by Akmal and they get one more.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Akmal has played that with the full face of the bat.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Back of the length outside off. Akmal worked it past the short third man fielder for a couple of runs.

K McCallan to Y Khan, Length delivery, swept away through square leg for a single.

T Johnston to K Akmal, FOUR! A length delivery on off stump. Akmal rocked onto the backfoot and ran it down to third man for a boundary to end the over.

T Johnston to Y Khan, Driven through the leg side by Khan for a single.

T Johnston to Y Khan, FOUR! Back of the length outside off. Khan got into position early and pulled it away through square on the leg side for a boundary.

T Johnston to Y Khan, Khan works it down the leg side for a couple of runs.

T Johnston to K Akmal, Akmal plays the Square-Cut for another single.

T Johnston to K Akmal, Akmal shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the backfoot.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Akmal has punched the ball off the backfoot for a single.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Akmal has driven it straight down the ground.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Played through mid-wicket by Akmal.

Misbah Ul Haq is the new batsman.

K McCallan to S Afridi, OUT! McCallan held this one back just a wee bit. Afridi came down the track and was looking to clear long on but ended up holding out to Mooney at the fence.

K McCallan to S Afridi, FOUR! A length delivery on off. Afridi slogged that through the gap between mid-on and mid-wicket for a boundary.

K McCallan to K Akmal, Flighted delivery outside off. Akmal walks down the wicket and drives through the covers for a single

R West to K Akmal, A flighted delivery on off stump played straight to short extra cover for a single.

R West to K Akmal, Down the leg side and it's called a wide.

R West to S Afridi, Afridi plays the Square-Cut and picks up a single.

R West to S Afridi, FOUR! A flighted delivery on off stump. Afridi walks down the wicket and smashes it over the bowler's head for a boundary to long off.

R West to S Afridi, Pushed to the cover region by Afridi.

R West to S Afridi, A length delivery worked off the pads towards square leg for a couple of runs.

R West to K Akmal, A full toss played straight to long on for a single.

A Cusack to S Afridi, Afridi flicks it away with a wristy shot past short fine leg for another couple.

A Cusack to S Afridi, Afridi has driven it through the off side and they run hard to pick up a couple.

A Cusack to K Akmal, Pushed to the cover region by Akmal for a single.

A Cusack to K Akmal, FOUR! A length delivery on off stump and Akmal swept it fine down the leg side over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

A Cusack to S Afridi, Afridi has played it fine down the leg side. One run added to the total.

A Cusack to S Afridi, FOUR! A slower delivery which Afridi picked early and drove through the covers for a boundary.

R West to S Afridi, Afridi plays the pull-shot for a single.

R West to S Afridi, Afridi has flicked the ball off his pads towards square leg and they pick up a couple.

R West to K Akmal, Akmal plays a sweep shot for a single.

R West to K Akmal, Driven through the covers by Akmal again but this time he finds the man in the deep for a couple.

R West to K Akmal, FOUR! A flighted delivery outside off. Akmal leaned into that and drove it through the covers to pick up a boundary.

R West to S Afridi, Pushed to the cover region by Afridi and he takes a single.

Regan West is brought into the attack.

A Cusack to K Akmal, Akmal has pushed it to the cover region.

A Cusack to K Akmal, Akmal has attempted to play that one - but missed.

Shahid Afridi is the new batsman.

A Cusack to S Hasan, OUT! A slower delivery outside off. Hasan was looking to go over mid-off but did not time it as well and it went straight to McCallan.

A Cusack to S Hasan, Hasan has dug out that yorker at the last second.

A Cusack to K Akmal, Driven through the leg side by Akmal for a single.

A Cusack to K Akmal, Akmal has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Alex Cusack is the new bowler.

B Rankin to S Hasan, Hasan has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails.

B Rankin to S Hasan, A good short delivery from Rankin which was angled into the batsman who failed to get bat on it.

B Rankin to S Hasan, That ball has struck Hasan on the thigh-pad.

B Rankin to K Akmal, Played to the point region by Akmal for a single.

B Rankin to S Hasan, A slower delivery from Rankin which hit Hasan on the thigh pad and they scamper through for a leg bye.

B Rankin to K Akmal, Akmal has nudged the ball fine down the leg side. One run conceded.

T Johnston to S Hasan, SIX! Another half volley on middle and this time Hasan nailed it, sending it a long way over the long on fence.

T Johnston to S Hasan, Hasan has lofted it over mid-on and he gets a couple of runs.

T Johnston to S Hasan, FOUR! A half volley on off stump and Hasan clipped it away through square leg for a boundary.

T Johnston to K Akmal, A beamer from Johnston which Akmal pulled away towards square leg for a single and it's a no ball for height.

T Johnston to K Akmal, SIX! A length delivery on middle. Akmal picked the length early and nailed it over the square leg boundary for a maximum.

T Johnston to K Akmal, Akmal plays the pull-shot.

T Johnston to K Akmal, Akmal has been struck on the thigh-pad.

B Rankin to S Hasan, Hasan has played that with the full face of the bat.

B Rankin to K Akmal, Delicate glance by Akmal through the fine leg region and they pick up a single.

B Rankin to K Akmal, A good short delivery from Rankin and Akmal failed to get bat on it. It's called one for the over.

B Rankin to K Akmal, A length delivery on middle. Akmal got behind that one and defended it back towards the bowler.

B Rankin to K Akmal, In the off stump channel again. Akmal was looking to cut that through square but missed it completely.

B Rankin to K Akmal, Akmal has played that with the full face of the bat.

T Johnston to S Hasan, Defended off the back foot by Hasan.

T Johnston to S Hasan, FOUR! A back of the length delivery which Hasan lofted straight back, just clearing mid-off and it trickled away to the boundary.

T Johnston to S Hasan, Played to the point region by Hasan.

T Johnston to S Hasan, Hasan defends it off the back foot.

T Johnston to S Hasan, Hasan lets the ball go outside his off stump.

T Johnston to S Hasan, FOUR! A length delivery on off stump. Hasan picked it early and lofted that over the covers for a boundary.

T Johnston to S Hasan, Way outside the off stump and it's called a wide.

B Rankin to K Akmal, That ball has taken the inside edge of Akmal and thudded into his pads. A good start from Rankin.

B Rankin to S Hasan, Fended towards mid-on this time around for only a single.

B Rankin to S Hasan, A length delivery on middle. Hasan was looking to clear mid-on but got a leading edge which went just over mid-off and they couple.

B Rankin to S Hasan, Hasan has played that with the full face of the bat.

B Rankin to K Akmal, Akmal has stood up on his toes to play that one towards square leg for a single to get off the mark.

B Rankin to K Akmal, A good delivery to start. It was pitching on off and nipping away just enough to beat the outside edge.

The players are out in the middle as we are about to get underway. Kamran Akmal and Shahzaib Hasan are the openers for Pakistan. Boyd Rankin has the new ball.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

The pitch looks like a good one to bat and should produce a lot of runs. It might do a little bit for the seamers early on and there should be something in it for the spinners as well.

The weather is cloudy and there is a chance of showers through the day. But it's clear now and the game should get underway on time with temperatures around 20 degrees.

Pakistan take on Ireland in their last Super Eight match. It's a must win game for them if they are to make it into the semi-finals. They are going into this match on the back of a thumping victory over New Zealand on Saturday. They were exremely good in all departments in that game, reducing a strong New Zealand to under 100 and then chasing them down in no time. Umar Gul has shown why he is one of the top bowlers in this format at the top level and he has been supported well by the spin combination of Afridi and Ajmal. Abdur Razzaq coming back into the Pakistan team, strengthens their bowling even further. Ireland on the other hand lost to Sri Lanka yesterday but not without a fight having bowled them out for less than 150. They do possess a few quality bowlers in Johnston, Rankin and Cusack and are a very good fielding side. They also have depth in their batting with Niall O'Brien and Porterfield at the top of the order with Kevin O'Brien at 6. They will not go without a fight and their skipper said in the last game that their aim was to go back with atleast one win in the Super Eight stages. They have no chance of qualifying but know that if they win thi match, they might well have spoilt Pakistan's party.