Rizwan, Fakhar guide Pakistan to level series

By our correspondent
LAHORE: Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman capitalized on dropped chances and shared 140 for the third wicket stand to enable Pakistan level series when they conquered Ireland by seven wickets in Dublin on Sunday.
Two dropped catches by Graham Hume in the Pakistan reply to Ireland’s 193 for 7 gave the visitors the impetus to win the second T20 international to square up the three-match series at 1-1 ahead of next Tuesday’s decider.
Needing 194 to win, Pakistan had wobbled in their reply at 13 for 2 and they lost a wicket in the first over in their reply with opener Saim Ayub brilliantly caught at short mid-wicket by Curtis Campher off Mark Adair’s bowling.
Captain Barbar Azam only lasted four deliveries before he was caught behind by Tucker off the bowling of Hume in the second over with Pakistan 13 for 2.
Hume then became the villain as both Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Azam were inexplicably dropped twice by Hume, easy catches not taken, putting unnecessary pressure back on the Irish attack as both went past their half century, taking advantage of Hume’s poor fielding.
In the end Pakistan got over the line with 3.1 overs to spare.
Earlier in the day, the game was delayed by 40 minutes due to rain as Pakistan won the toss and put Ireland in to bat.
The Irish side showed one change from game one with bowler Barry McCarthy, who had a back spasm, replaced by Hume.
Pakistan brought in seamer Mohammad Amir, replacing Shadab Khan who failed to contribute a single run with the bat and conceded 54 runs in four overs with the ball in the first T20.
Irish captain Paul Stirling became Ireland’s most capped player with 390 caps across all formats, surpassing the 389 of the retired Kevin O’Brien and in scoring 11 runs also went past 12,000 runs for his country, before he was out with the score on 34.
Fellow opener Andy Balbirnie gave Azam Khan his second wicket, dismissed for 16 with the score on 34.
Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector steadied Ireland with a 62-run partnership, with Tector making 32 before being caught brilliantly by Shaheen Afridi with Ireland 96 for 3 in the 11th over.
Curtis Campher made a brisk 22 off 12 deliveries before being caught and bowled by Amir in the 16th over, before Tucker went past his 50, his second half century for his country in over 17, losing his wicket at cover for 51 off 33 deliveries in the same over.
George Dockrell (15), Mark Adair (9) Gareth Delaney (28 not out) and Graham Hume (2 not out) took Ireland past the 190 mark, finishing on 193 for 7 with Shaheen Shah Afridi the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 3 for 49 off his four overs.
As Pakistan chased victory, Rizwan was on 26 when he was dropped by Hume and Azam on 30 when Hume dropped his second attempted catch and Pakistan pounced on the let offs.
Zaman eventually went onto make 78 from 39 deliveries, his knock putting Pakistan in sight of victory before he fell to the bowling of Ben White, smartly caught by Gareth Delany.
However Rizwan remaining undefeated on 75 and helped by an unbeaten 30 of just ten balls by wicketkeeper Azam Khan, Pakistan reached their target in the 17th over.
The third and final game of the series takes place next Tuesday in Clontarf, with a 3pm start.