Pakistan thrashed Ireland by a mammoth 255 runs in the first One-Day International at Malahide Thursday. This was the seventh largest victory, in terms of runs, in the 3,767 match history of One-Day Internationals. Ireland, chasing 338 for victory, was skittled out for just 82 inside 24 overs, with left-arm spinner Imad Wasim taking five wickets for 14 runs. Returning from a hiatus of 16 months to the one-day format due to a knee injury, Umar Gul picked up three for 23. However, it was the left-arm fast-bowler Mohammad Amir who made early inroads with an in-dipper that curtailed Paul Stirling's stay at the crease to only two deliveries. Earlier, Sharjeel Khan's quickfire 150 and handful fifties by Shoaib Malik and debutant Mohammad Nawaz down the order put Irish bowlers on the backfoot. Pakistan got off to a flying start with left-handed opener Sharjeel hitting a four and a six in the first over. The 27-year-old, who scored at a blasting strike rate of over 176, kept Pakistan afloat despite early dismissal of his captain and opening partner Azhar Ali. Sharjeel caused havoc with his bat and put up a 90-run partnership with veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez that followed a 96-run stand with Baber Azam for the third wicket. The Hyderabad-born opener hit more than 65 percent of the runs in the latter partnership and became the fourth fastest Pakistan batsman to hit ODI century when he reached the triple figures in 61 balls. The left-handed batsman's striking rate soared further as he dealt in boundaries to reach 152 in the next 25 balls. The southpaw became only third Pakistan batsman to register a score of 150-plus as he pulled Barry McCarthy for his 16th boundary. In total Sharjeel hit 16 fours and nine sixes before McCarthy, the hosts' most successful bowler with four wickets, dismissed him. Sharjeel's 152 was the third quickest 150 in the format in terms of balls faced. Nawaz and Shoaib Malik put on a scorching 105-run partnership in 83 balls, as both scored fifties toward the later part of the innings. Malik, remaining unbeaten in his 37-ball 57, smacked six fours and two sixes at innings' second best strike rate of 154. Nawaz, who took 49 balls to register his maiden ODI fifty, charged down the wicket and hit a boundary at mid-wicket region to get to 53. The 22-year-old, who became the 11th Pakistani to score a fifty in his first ODI, fell on the next ball. He had hit seven fours during his stay at the crease. The two-match series concludes at Malahide Saturday.
