Ex-Limavady pro breaks Irish hearts

IRELAND captain William Porterfield admitted his side had been left heartbroken after narrowly missing out on an historic series success over Pakistan in the RSA Insurance one-day international series.
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE 22/3/2012
Ireland vs Canada
Ireland's William Porterfield hits a four
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/ICCICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE 22/3/2012
Ireland vs Canada
Ireland's William Porterfield hits a four
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/ICC
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE 22/3/2012 Ireland vs Canada Ireland's William Porterfield hits a four Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/ICC

Ireland looked almost certain to secure a first series win over a full-member nation when Pakistan crashed to 17 for four chasing 230 in the second and final match in Dublin, on Sunday.

But Irish hopes were snatched away by a devastating eighth-wicket stand of 93, from 62 balls, between former Limavady player Kamran Akmal and Wahab Riaz to claim a two-wicket win.

It meant the Irish were been left thinking what might have been for the second time in four days following Thursday’s dramatic tie to open the series.

“We’re obviously disappointed after Thursday’s result but we managed to pick ourselves up. This is really disappointing,” Porterfield said.

“It is kind of heartbreaking in terms of being in the position we were in.

“That’s the biggest thing that we’ll look back on. After those first 12 or 14 overs and having them four down and behind the rate.

“Even coming into the last 12 to 14 overs if we had of picked up a wicket at that time we were right on top.

“They were two pretty good efforts that we’ll look back on and say we played pretty well.

“It’s deflating at the minute but it shows where we are at.”

Pakistan had needed 81 from the final nine overs when Kamran reached his half-century from 71 balls.

Wahab struck the killer blows in Tim Murtagh’s final over as the Middlesex man - who had been instrumental in the early collapse - saw the ropes cleared three times as 24 came from it.

That left Pakistan needing only eight from the final three overs and while Kamran fell for 81, from 84 balls, the damage had been done.

“If we had of got Riaz earlier it would have been a different story but take nothing away from him with the way he struck the ball it’s as clean as I’ve seen anyone hit it,” added the former Donemana man.