Sarfraz hits ton in Adelaide to lead Pakistan to seven-wicket win that eliminates Ireland
Match Report:
ScorecardPakistan's victory sets up Australia showdown
Australia will play Pakistan in their World Cup quarter-final next Friday, March 20, after a Sarfraz Ahmed century guided the 1992 World Cup champions to a seven-wicket win against Ireland in Adelaide tonight.
Ireland's loss eliminates them, with West Indies through to the knockout stages after their victory against United Arab Emirates earlier on Sunday in Napier. The West Indies will play New Zealand in the fourth quarter-final in Wellington next Saturday.
Pakistan's win was completed amid bizarre scenes with Umar Akmal blocking out balls as the victory target neared in order to allow Sarfraz to get the runs needed to complete his century, Pakistan's first of the World Cup.
William Porterfield won the toss and delivered a captain's knock of 107, but received scant support and the Irishmen were rolled for 237. It proved to be decidedly subpar.
Pakistan openers Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed were rarely ruffled in a 120-run stand.
Ahmed fell for 55 due to a mistimed pull shot, while first drop Haris Sohail was run out soon after due to a horrendous mix-up with Sarfraz.
But captain Misbah-ul Haq settled proceedings and when he played on in the 39th over, Pakistan only needed another 30 runs to get over the line.
Umar Akmal stopped scoring to ensure Sarfraz got his ton, which happened in the 46th over when the right-hander chipped George Dockrell to the mid-wicket fence.
Sarfraz then played out the rest of the over, allowing Umar to smash the winning runs with 23 balls spare.
Sarfraz put on a masterclass of studious batting, stroking just six fours as he carried his bat to finish 101 not out.
Pakistan dropped catches and wasted their review in the first innings, but outclassed Ireland where it mattered.
This was despite the absence of towering paceman Mohammad Irfan (hip) and veteran batsman Younis Khan (omitted).
However, Pakistan can also draw on an impressive 29-run win over South Africa when looking for causes for confidence.
Ireland will be cursing their luck, given they beat the West Indies who progressed to the knockout phase due to a superior net run-rate.
The Irishmen only have themselves to blame after a nervous performance in their most important game of the tournament.
Porterfield always looked comfortable and in control, but his teammates tried to push the tempo and gave away too many cheap wickets.
Gary Wilson, the only other Irishman apart from Porterfield to pass 18, was dismissed for 29 in the 41st over.
It was the beginning of the end of Ireland's spirited Cup campaign.
They rarely threatened with the ball, while keeper Wilson dropped a chance when Sarfraz was on 37 and Pakistan were 0-90.
Of the many catches that went down on Sunday, it proved the most costly.
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil
Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien, Andy Balbirnie, Kevin O'Brien, Gary Wilson, Stuart Thompson, John Mooney, George Dockrell, Alex Cusack.