The rock

Skipper Babar Azam slammed his 39th half-century and Mohammad Rizwan struck fifty after pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed a three-fer as Pakistan defeated Ireland by six wickets with 18 balls to spare in the third T20I and won the three-match series 2-1 here on Tuesday.

Babar struck a 42-ball 75 while Rizwan blasted a 38-ball 56 as Pakistan reached 181/4 in 17 overs after Shaheen Afridi claimed brilliant figures of 3-14 off four overs and his namesake Abbas Afridi bagged 2-43 after the visitors had won the toss and elected to field first. After Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub for 14 off 11 balls with the total at 16 runs, Rizwan and Babar a 139-run partnership for the second wicket. Rizwan was the first to reach his half-century off 30 balls, his knock studded with four boundaries and three sixes.