Sarfraz Ahmed became the first Pakistan batsman to score a century in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. © Getty
Update : Closing comments
After 42 league games in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, the eight teams that will go through the knock-outs are determined. Sri Lanka, South Africa, India, Bangladesh, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies are the teams that will fight for the World Cup trophy. The tournament resumes after a two-day gap and the first quarter-final will be between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Sydney. Take care!
Update : Post match comments
William Porterfield: "We thought that it was a very good surface. We would have obviously liked to have more runs on the board."
Misbah-ul-Haq: "This was a pressure game. Credit should be given to the bowlers, it was a slow track. The bowlers bowled their heart out. They bowled the opposition out in the latter part of the stage. Of course, that was a brilliant knock and a much needed knock. Today, Sarfraz showed us that he could go on and finish the game."
Sarfraz Ahmed: "Waqar Younis told me that no one has scored a century for Pakistan in this World Cup, I am glad that I did it. I think it was very important for us to win the game, it was a do-or-die game for us."
Misbah-ul-Haq was hit wicket for the second time in ODIs. © Getty
Update : Semi-final scenarios
With the four quarter-final line-ups determined, this is the situation. The first semi-final will feature the winner of the first quarter-final and the winner of the fourth quarter-final while the second semi-final will be between the winner of the second quarter-final and third quarter-final. In all probability, one could see a potential India v Pakistan semi-final or India v Australia semi-final.
Match summary : Pakistan good in all departments
It has been a spirited performance from Pakistan. The bowlers, backed up by some good fielding, restricted Ireland to 237. Once the opening pair of Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad put on 120 runs for the opening wicket, the game was out of Ireland's grasp. Shehzad fell for 63 and Haris Sohail was unfortunately run-out for 3.
Sarfraz hung in there and along with Misbah-ul-Haq, got Pakistan closer to the target. However, both Umar Akmal and Sarfraz ensured that there were no further hiccups. Towards the end, the match assumed farcical proportions when Umar was trying to ensure Sarfraz got to his ton. After a frustrating wait for a couple of overs, Sarfraz got his hundred in the 46th over and Pakistan sealed victory by seven wickets.
Pakistan's victory over Ireland has buried the ghosts of the 2007 disaster. At that time, Ireland knocked Pakistan out of the tournament while in 2015, Pakistan have repaid the favor. They have sealed third spot in Pool B and they will take on Australia in Adelaide on March 20. Thanks to this win, West Indies are through following their win over UAE and they will play New Zealand in Wellington.
Match end : Pakistan sail into the quarter-finals
After 45 minutes of wasting time, Umar Akmal thrashes Paul Stirling to long-on to help Pakistan defeat Ireland by seven wickets. With this, the quarter-final line-up has been finalised.
With this win, Pakistan have sealed third spot in Pool B while Ireland are out of the tournament. With this win, West Indies have qualified for the quarter-finals. These are the quarter-final line-ups:
March 18: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Sydney, 1st quarter-final
March 19: India vs Bangladesh, Melbourne, 2nd quarter-final
March 20: Australia vs Pakistan, Adelaide, 3rd quarter-final
March 21: New Zealand vs West Indies, Wellington, 4th quarter-final
Milestone : Sarfraz gets to his landmark
Sarfraz and Umar Akmal were only delaying the inevitable. Sarfraz was struggling to get to his hundred while Umar was just playing out the deliveries in order to get to his century. In the 46th over bowled by Geroge Dockrell, Sarfraz finally scored his maiden ODI century and he became the first Pakistan player since Imran Nazir in the 2007 edition.
Update : Pakistan come close to victory
Kevin O'Brien conceded 11 runs with Umar Akmal smashing two boundaries. Sarfraz needs another six runs to become Pakistan's first centurion in the 2015 World Cup
Wicket : Misbah falls but Pakistan come closer
Alex Cusack broke the 82-run partnership when he sent back Misbah-ul-Haq for 39. Misbah tried to play with an angled bat to the off side and knocks it to the off side. However, Misbah went back too much back on the crease and trod on to the stumps. Unusual way to go.
Misbah-ul-Haq hit wicket Alex Cusack 39 (46)
Update : Misbah steadies Pakistan
Following the quick dismissals of Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq steadied the ship with Sarfraz as the partnership went past 50. Ireland are struggling to pick wickets.
Wicket : Sohail is run-out and Ireland claw back
George Dockrell was looking to make amends after a disastrous first over. Sarfraz and Shehzad had each hit him for two fours and Dockrell conceded 17 runs. However, in his second over, he struck. Sarfraz Ahmed nudged it to square leg and called for the single. Haris Sohail responded but Sarfraz turned him back at the last moment. Andrew Balbirnie fired the throw to from square leg and Dockrell broke the stumps.
Wicket : Wilson fails to capitalize on life
Just like Ed Joyce, Gary Wilson is unable to capitalize on his life. On 29, Sohail Khan trapped Wilson LBW and it looked out in latest. However, Wilson immediately went for the review and replays suggested he had gotten a big inside edge on to the pads. The decision was reversed by Marais Erasmus.
However, in the same over, Wilson falls and Ireland are in trouble. Sohail bangs a short ball outside off and Wilson upper-cuts it to third man but he finds Wahab Riaz.
Gary Wilson c Wahab Riaz b Sohail Khan 29 (38)
Wicket : Porterfield falls after great knock
William Porterfield finally falls but not after playing a wonderful knock. Sohail bowls a full delivery on middle and leg stump and the skipper aims to loft it over mid-on. However, the bat turns in his hand and he totally mistimes it. Afridi runs to his left and takes a good, low catch. Great stuff from the Ireland captain.
William Porterfield c Shahid Afridi b Sohail Khan 107 (131)
Update : Glory for Porterfield
William Porterfield will remember March 15 for a long time. He gets to his seventh ODI century and his first in the World Cup. It is also his first against Pakistan and third against a Test nation. However, he has a big slice of luck. On 99, he chips the ball back to Rahat Ali who fails to latch on to the catch. Pakistan also miss a run-out of Gary Wilson on 14 when Sohail Khan missed a chance at the bowler's end. The stage is set for the onslaught.
William Porterfield scored his seventh ODI century and his first in World Cups. © Agencies
Update : Pakistan lose a review, Joyce survives
Ed Joyce continued to lead a charmed life. Rahat Ali bowls a good delivery in that corridor outside off stump and it just nips away at the last moment, Joyce is beaten and Pakistan vehemently appeal for a catch. The umpire, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, is unmoved and Pakistan opt for the review. Replays show the bat hit the pad and the ball just missed the outside edge. Snicko did not show a spike when the ball passed the edge and Joyce survives. Sarfraz was very confident and he asked Misbah to take the review but now Pakistan have lost it.
Update : Porterfield plays aggressively, Joyce gets a life
William Porterfield is playing confidently. He has hit three fours and a six so far and all three shots have been clean strikes. It is a wonderful pitch to bat on and Pakistan are doing some favours for Ireland. On 5, Ed Joyce cuts a short ball from Rahat Ali to point where Ahmed Shehzad is wrong-footed initially and he spills the chance.
It is a must-win game for both Ireland and Pakistan in Adelaide. © Getty
Update : Adil gets a warning
Ehsan Adil has been warned already for running on to the danger area of the pitch. Meanwhile, Pakistan's fielding is already on the mark
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