PAKISTAN BEAT IRELAND BY SEVEN WICKETS AND QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINALS

Off-spinner Paul Stirling to bowl, his first ball is a ropey half-tracker that Umar Akmal can't resist, and he whacks it away for four. Game over.

Everybody saving one. 28 balls left, one run needed. With Sarfraz already on 101, quite bizarrely, he plays out the rest of the over without attempting a run - even blocking a full toss. As FS Trueman would say, I just don't know what's going off out there. Maybe he wants Akmal to hit the winning run, by way of thanking him for holding fire?

Finally it's there - Sarfraz Ahmed thrashes a four through mid-wicket for his maiden ODI ton from 120 balls, removing his helmet and going down on his knees. If anyone's still keeping count of the actual match, the scores are level.

Image source, AP

So, Sarfraz on strike - spinner George Dockrell to bowl, Ireland didn't have much choice as three of their five front-line bowlers are bowled out already. Sarfraz hits the ball to long-on, there's clearly a single there... but he doesn't take it!

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq is waving from the dug-out, seemingly anxious to get his batsmen to finish the job. Anyone know what "get on with it" is in Urdu?

With only five needed and Sarfraz on 97, Umar Akmal won't want anything more than a single - so William Porterfield brings the field up, posting two slips. Needless to say, there's no advantage Pakistan can gain by winning any quicker - they know they'll play Australia in the last eight. Akmal just blocks out the over. "We should refuse to commentate on the next ball. Just replay the last one," comments Michael Vaughan on TMS. There are even a few boos as he shoulders arms to the last ball of the over.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Even the Pakistani dug-out want them to get on with it here. Just finish it off."

Seven to win. Four for a ton. John Mooney to bowl... and it's another legside wide. Sarfraz attempts a lofted drive... but there's a man out there and they only run one.

Image source, Reuters

Akmal delicately taps a single to get Sarfraz on strike, he late-cuts a single to third man to move to 96 with seven needed. Akmal defends the last ball - can Pakistan finish it next ball? Thompson has also finished his spell - 1-59 from 10.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Adelaide

"Lovely from the Irish fans, who are having a brilliant time at the bottom of the Gavin Wanganeen Stand. 'Give us a Test match' is their song. Just imagine Ireland v England in Dublin. They'd have to treble Guinness production."

Sarfraz applies a new rubber handle to his bat before Thompson begins his final over - he slog-sweeps a single to move to 95, then nearly runs himself out by calling for a second! So he's sent back and has lost the strike with 10 needed. Will Akmal play out the rest of the over? Ireland appeal for a catch down the leg side but umpire Marais Erasmus extends his arms to signal a wide. Nine needed.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"You look back to Ireland's innings and I'm sure at the end of the game they will think about that period from 30 overs onwards. They were in a position to push on to the late 200s. Pakistan bowled really well. Especially as it is a really good pitch to bat on."

Umar Akmal lifts Kevin O'Brien over mid-on for a first-bounce four, just 11 needed now. But for the rest of the over, Akmal stoutly defends, knowing his partner is six runs away from a maiden ODI ton. O'Brien finishes with 0-49 from 10.

And in terms of Pakistan captains being out hit wicket (see Andrew Samson's note below), Inzamam-ul-Haq falling on his stumps against Monty Panesar is well worth a look on YouTube. (Other video-sharing websites are available).

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"The last Pakistan batsman to be out hit wicket in an ODI was… Misbah-ul-Haq, against Australia at Centurion in 2009. Only seven batsmen have been out hit wicket twice in ODIs. No player has been dismissed this way three times."

Captain William Porterfield claps his hands to encourage his fielders but he and Ireland will know the game is up here. Akmal knocks a single, Sarfraz on strike on 94 with 16 needed... make that 15 as Thompson sends down a wide. Sarfraz drives one straight back into the stumps at the bowler's end, but Akmal was safely in his ground - and the bowler didn't get a touch on it.

Johan Botha
Ex-South Africa spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Akmal is such an exciting player. I love watching him. That four was just back of a length but he rocked back and pulled it through wide mid-on."

Akmal will punish anything loose - he pulls O'Brien for a four and a single through mid-wicket. Pakistan need 17 from 54 balls - and with Akmal having nicked the strike, Sarfraz will hope he doesn't blast those last 17 before he gets back on strike...

Gavin O'Brien: Looks like Ireland had the misfortune to be put in to the tougher group. Group A had cannon fodder like Scotland, England & Afghanistan!

Kevin O'Brien back for his ninth over, he's had one of the better economy rates for Ireland today, though that takes a tumble as Umar Akmal stands-and-delivers, clubbing a four back past the non-striker and not even bothering to run. That's him off the mark. A couple of singles mean Sarfraz is now within one hit of his century, though he's not cleared the ropes yet - and only hit five fours.