Adelaide: Sarfaraz Ahmed struck his maiden ODI hundred as Pakistan advanced to the cricket World Cup quarterfinals, knocking Ireland out with a seven-wicket triumph over the European giant-slayers in their final pool B match here on Sunday.
Set a target of 238 by the Irish, Pakistan never looked in trouble and romped home with 3.5 overs to spare, putting up a rare clinical show in what has otherwise been a topsy-turvy campaign for them in the marquee event.
Sarfraz became the first Pakistan batsman after Imran Nazir (2007) to notch up a World Cup hundred as he slammed 101-run knock to cement his place after being kept out in the initial matches of the tournament.
Pakistan will now face Australia in the last-eight stage on March 20 here after finishing third in their group with four wins out of six matches.
It was a thoroughly polished performance by a more-often-than-not mercurial team with Sarfaraz proving his worth yet again. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman shone bright with 124-ball knock, which was studded with six fours.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad was another notable contributor to the team’s cause with a 71-ball 63, which included seven hits to the fence.
Man-of-the-match Sarfaraz and Shehzad put together 120 runs for the opening wicket, laying the solid foundation for a smooth chase.
For the bitterly disappointed Irish, who impressed one and all with lion-hearted performances all through, Alex Cusack was the most successful bowler with figures of 1/43 from his 10 overs. (PTI)
Score board
Ireland innings:
Porterfield c Afridi b Sohail 107
Stirling lbw b Ehsan Adil 3
Joyce c Akmal b Wahab 11
N O’Brien c Akmal b Rahat 12
Balbirnie c Afridi b Haris Sohail 18
Wilson c Wahab b Sohail 29
K O’Brien c Maqsood b Wahab 8
Thompson c Akmal b Rahat 12
Mooney c Akmal b Wahab 13
Dockrell run out 11
Cusack not out 1
Total: (All out; 50 overs) 237
Fall of wickets: 1/11 2/56 3/86 4/134 5/182 6/189 7/204 8/216 9/230
Bowling: Sohail Khan 10-0-44-2, Ehsan Adil 7-0-31-1, Rahat Ali 10-0-48-2, Wahab Riaz 10-0-54-3, Shahid Afridi 10-0-38-0, Haris Sohail 3-0-20-1.
Pakistan innings:
Shehzad c Joyce b Thompson 63
Sarfraz Ahmed not out 101
Haris Sohail run out 3
Misbah hit wicket b Cusack 39
Umar not out 20
Total (3 wickets; 46.1 overs) 241
Fall of wickets 1-120, 2-126, 3-208
Bowling: Alex Cusack 10-1-43-1, John Mooney 9-1-40-0, Stuart Thompson 10-0-59-1, George Dockrell 6-0-43-0, Kevin O’Brien 10-0-49-0, Paul Stirling 1.1-0-5-0.
