ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) – Pakistan’s disciplined pace bowlers restricted Ireland to 237 and then the batsmen took over to help claim a seven-wicket win Sunday and a place in the Cricket World Cup quarter-finals.
After captain William Porterfield won the toss and provided Ireland’s only resistance at the crease, scoring his first World Cup century (107), Pakistan replied methodically at Adelaide Oval.
They scored the first 100 runs without loss as openers Sarfraz Ahmed (101 not out) and Ahmed Shehzad (63) found gaps in the Irish field placements.
Sarfraz’s century was Pakistan’s first of the tournament, leading his team to 241 for three in 46.1 overs.
The win moves Pakistan, which lost their first two matches before winning the next four, into a quarter-final match at the same Adelaide ground on Friday against four-time champion Australia.
Summarised scores: Ireland 237 in 50 overs (William Porterfield 107, Gary Wilson 29; Wahab Riaz 3-54, Sohail Khan 2-44). Pakistan 241-3 in 46.1 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 101 not out; Ahmed Shehzad 63). Pakistan won by seven wickets.
