Akmal’s aggression put a number of Irish bowlers off their game in the last 10 overs, as did Wahab Riaz, who ruined Tim Murtagh’s figures by hitting him for three sixes and a four in a 47th over that cost 24 runs and left Pakistan requiring eight from the final three. There was still time for some late drama as Kevin O’Brien finally ended Akmal’s stay after he had hit his 11th four off the first ball of the 48th over, with Ireland captain William Porterfield holding on to a skier at cover.

Riaz hit the next ball for a single and also took a single off Trent Johnston in the next over before number 10 batsman Junaid Khan ran two to seal the victory with eight balls to spare. “We’re pretty dejected to come up short because of the position we were in, it is disappointing,” admitted Porterfield, while also praising Akmal for his match-winning knock.

“He played a class innings, the way he came in and the intent that he showed from early on really took the momentum away from us.” The home attack had earlier done brilliantly in defending their total of 229 for nine, which was built around a majestic century from Ed Joyce.

Murtagh claimed his first ODI wickets for Ireland, taking two in three balls in the fourth over, while Johnston also took two in his first spell as Pakistan stumbled to 17 for four. Johnston could have had four victims, and indeed the 39-year-old former Ireland skipper missed out on a possible hat-trick as chances from the bats of Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik were missed behind the stumps in the 10th over.

The pair would go on to share a 43-run stand before Alex Cusack caught and bowled visiting skipper for 24. George Dockrell then bowled an inspired spell of left-arm spin from the City end, his first eight overs going for 16 runs and including the wicket of Malik leg-before for 43. The day had started with Ireland handing 23-year-old batsman James Shannon his debut at ODI level, with his Instonians team-mate Andrew White missing out.

After being put in to bat by Pakistan, it took a century of the very highest standard from Joyce to help the home side recover from a terrible start to post a total of 229 for nine. The Sussex captain was a class apart as wickets tumbled early and late on in the innings. All the while the gifted left-hander worked the ball for singles and twos and unleashed a few trademark drives and cuts to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

His one real flourish came on 94 when he pulled left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman for six into the pavilion to bring up his first ODI hundred for Ireland, and second in total after his 107 for England against Australia in Sydney back in 2007. It certainly cheered up the home support in sell-out crowd of over 3,000 after they had seen Paul Stirling depart for a duck in the first over following his century in the first ODI on Thursday.

Asad Ali, making his debut for Pakistan, then had Porterfield caught behind chasing a wide delivery in the fourth over in a brilliant first spell in international cricket, where he conceded just nine runs in seven overs. Joyce and Niall O’Brien (29) put on 65 for the fourth wicket, but the big partnership would come when Kevin O’Brien joined Joyce to put on 94 at a run a ball, including 53 off the five batting powerplay overs.

The hero of the tied game on Thursday, the younger of the O’Brien boys perished on 38 when he became the second of four victims for Rehman, caught on the deep square leg boundary by Nasir Jamshaid in attempting to hit his first six. A flurry of wickets followed, with Ireland going from 178 for four to 189 for eight in the space of 26 deliveries.

Joyce, one of the coolest customers in international cricket, kept the head until the end, batting all but the first five deliveries to finish on 116 not out from 132 balls, his highest ODI score.

Ger Siggins (Irish Daily Star):
27 May 2013 Ireland came desperately close to beating Pakistan and becoming the first Associate team to win a series against a Full Member at Clontarf. With their backs to the wall, a breathtaking partnership by Kamran Akmal and Wahab Riaz blew Ireland out of the water in front of a ground packed with supporters, many of whom were supporting the visitors. A visitor from Mars – or ICC – wouldn’t have known which was the test side for much of the game as Ireland traded blows with the famous Asian tigers.

But in one destructive over the game completely switched direction. Bowling down the hill at the Killester End – though it seemed more like the Karachi End yesterday – Tim Murtagh suddenly lost control of the line and length that has made him the leading bowler in England this summer. Pakistan needed 32 off four overs when Wahab Riaz smashed him for three 6s and a 4 in six balls that yielded 24 precious runs.

In all the pair added 93 off just 62 balls to ensure victory. “Two special innings took it away from us”, admitted Kevin O’Brien, who took the man of the series award for his runs in both games and three stunning catches yesterday. Ireland had a special innings of their own to enjoy earlier.

Ed Joyce walked to the wicket after just five balls of the innings, and left it unbeaten 49.1 overs later. His career best 116 was an innings of high quality from a player who became only the second man to make an ODI century for two countries. And the first was also an Irishman, Eoin Morgan.

Joyce played 17 ODIs for England and scored a match-winning 107 against Australia at the SCG in January 2007. But back with his native land since the 2011 World Cup, he has brought class and experience to the side. Pakistan’s debutant Asad Ali quickly showed his great promise as Ireland were reduced to 4-2.

But the experienced southpaws Joyce and Niall O’Brien were the ideal in that situation and battled their way to 69. O’Brien fell to Wahab and Wilson perished soon after, but Joyce found a steady partner in the younger O’Brien. Kevin has often been accused of inconsistency, but he continued here as he finished Thursday’s tie.

He played several powerful drives and was looking set to make his first back-to-back ODI fifties since before the 2007 World Cup when he holed out on the boundary. Joyce rode his luck – an entertaining juggling act from Mohammed Hafeez spilled to earth after five attempts when he was on 61. O’Brien’s departure seemed to cause panic in the Irish lower order and four wickets fell for 11 but Tim Murtagh hung around long enough to see his former Middlesex colleague into three figures, which Joyce raised with his only six, over midwicket.

Ireland had switched pitches two days before the game, banking on a greener track to negate the Pakistan spinners. The €7,000 bill for moving the scaffolding and grandstands looked money well spent until those last ten overs. Trent Johnston and Murtagh played havoc with the Pakistan top-order, reducing them to 17-4. That score could have been even more ridiculous had two catches not been dropped off Johnston to dismiss Misbah and Shoaib before they had scored.

But experienced players such as the Pakistan middle order have been in this position before and battled their way back with stands of 43, 52 and 21. Misbah and Shoaib were able to settle in when the Irish openers were removed and the pressure slipped a little. George Dockrell turned back on the heat with a spell of 8-2-16-1, but by the time he came back for his last two Kamran was eyeing up the ropes.

Skipper William Porterfield knows how close his team came to a historic series victory: “We’re pretty dejected at the minute because of the position we got ourselves in. We’re very disappointed not to win.”

Emmet Riordan(Irish Times) & Ger Siggins (Irish Daily Star)