Rain brought this match to an end after Pakistan had bowled 31.1 overs and Ireland were 144-2. A reasonable crowd went home satisfied with a splendid innings from Masood who had been out seven balls before the end of the innings for 89. He threw the bat at everything, batted for 82 minutes, faced 87 balls and hit two sixes and 13 fours. It was a rousing display even if the bowlers did not appear to be trying too hard. Mudassar Nazar replaced Rameez Raja and captained the team. Ijaz Ahmed replaced Salim Jaffer. Mansoor Elahi scored a century, the eighth against Ireland in their last six matches.
Corlett bowled six overs at the start. Milling bowled only three, gave way to Garth, and then returned for the 13th over in place of Corlett. In this second spell of four overs he took two wickets, dismissing both openers. Shoaib was caught by Jackson for 10 with the total on 45, and Mudassar gave Cohen on the midwicket boundary the first of his three catches there. 60-2-34. Ijaz Ahmed and Salim Malik then collared the bowling. They came together in the 17th over and added 132 in 66 minutes before Ijaz became Cohen's second victim off Harrison in the 38th over. He had got to 50 in 60 minutes, and, in all, batted 77 minutes for 59 (one six, 8 fours). Mansoor Elahi came in and was 1 not out at lunch when the score was 195-3 in 39 overs, Salim Malik 78. The latter had got to 50 in 56 minutes. Masood had conceded 21 runs in 2 overs shortly before lunch. Harrison and Milling bowled after lunch. At 212 Salim was run out on a third run for 82 scored in 80 minutes with one six and 12 fours.
Young Asif now arrived and carnage began! He and Masood put on 131 in only 59 minutes in 15 overs, a rate of over eight an over. Corlett, Halliday and Garth were the unfortunate bowlers, Garth yielding 15 in one over. Mansoor Elahi sped to 50 in 51 minutes, off 41 deliveries, and to 100 in 77 minutes off 59 deliveries, taking only 18 balls for his second 50. In all he batted only 80 minutes for his 109, facing 59 balls and hitting six sixes and 10 fours. At 343 Asif was out, caught off Corlett, for 47 scored in 59 minutes and Mansoor Elahi followed at 365, caught by Masood at deep square leg. Mohsin Kamal failed to score giving Cohen his third leg side boundary catch - off Garth. Generally speaking, Milling excepted, the bowlers failed to hold the line and length which is essential in these circumstances.
There was consolation when Ireland batted. Warke and Cohen began at 3:30 PM to Mohsin and Ijaz. Between them these two bowled the first 15 overs. In the fourth over Kamal had Warke caught at slip. 5-1-1. Enter Masood. He threw his bat at everything and had very few "played-at-and-missed" shots. He began with a single, then hit Ijaz for a six and raced to 50 in only 37 minutes, off 44 balls, with nine fours to add to his six. With Cohen playing an admiring secondary role the Irish 50 came up in 35 minutes off 11.2 overs. Zakir Khan came on at 72 and Salim Malik at 74. The latter slowed the pace of scoring - only 13 runs, all singles, coming in his first five overs. There was a 25 minute break for rain at 4:11 PM. Play resumed at 4:36 PM and it was agreed to take tea after 30 overs.
Tauseef came on to bowl the 30th over with Masood on 89. Cohen was facing and hit the fourth ball for three. Masood blocked one and off the very last ball before tea was caught on the midwicket boundary - a good running catch by Mansoor Elahi. Masood had entertained a cheering crowd for 82 minutes, faced 87 balls, hit two sixes and 13 fours and put on 134 for the second wicket with Cohen who was 36 not out at tea. There was a distinct impression that the Pakistanis were not over keen to take wickets or cut off fours but nothing should take from Masood's strokeplay, his cutting, pulling and driving. Only another seven balls were bowled, due to rain, and the match was abandoned at 6:10 PM leaving Pakistan the winners on faster scoring rate. Cohen was 39 not out in 97 minutes.
Masood's uncle entertained a lot of the visitors at a party in Navan that evening