ADELAIDE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq urged his team to build on the momentum gained over the last weeks as they clash with Ireland in a must-win World Cup game at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The last league match in the month-long group stage will steer the winner in to the quarter-finals and leave the loser facing a difficult run-rate countback against the West Indies.
A likely win for the West Indies over the United Arab Emirates earlier on Sunday will bring them level with Pakistan and Ireland on six points to set up a keen finish for the knock-out rounds.
Pakistan lost their opening matches against elderly foes India and the West Indies, but bounced back to win the next to show one time again they are of the most unpredictable sides in world cricket.
of those included a stunning success over mighty South Africa in Auckland where they bowled the Proteas out for 202 after making 222.
"We have got a new life in this match and they must be definite they do not waste it," said the 40-year-old Misbah, who along with team-mate Shahid Afridi, will quit one-day cricket one time their World Cup ends.
"There are must-win games to play beginning with the against Ireland. Then more and you could win the match, so our approach has to be straightforward.
"There will be no second chance. go there, be positive, try to get wickets when you bowl and score runs when you bat. The bowlers have done very well so far, it is now the turn of the batsmen to deliver."
Misbah's half-centuries in matches have stood out in an otherwise uninspiring batting display where Pakistan have crossed 250 one time when they hammered 339 for six against the amateurs from the United Arab Emirates.
The key in this World Cup has been to keep wickets in hand till the 35th over and then go for the runs. I think teams who have been able to do this have won 90 percent of the time.
We would like somebody to take responsibility and bat the whole innings so that the momentum can be built from the other finish. They have nice seamers in form, its now up to the batsmen to put runs on the board.
"That was eight years ago and they are not looking back, but I agree Ireland are a hazardous team. Everybody knows their strength is batting. They have a mature batting line-up.
Ireland scored a famous three-wicket win over Pakistan when the teams last met in the World Cup in 2007 and Misbah conceded his team needed to be at their best to make the quarter-finals.
"We must play our best cricket to beat them."
Pakistan's progress in this World Cup is similar to the by Imran Khan's men when the event was last played Down Under in 1992, rising from the brink of elimination to be crowned champions.
"We can definitely take some positives from that and be motivated to do well," they said. "But you cannot sit back and say that since they did it in 1992 they will do it again.
Misbah said while his team will be inspired by the events of 23 years ago, success could not be achieved by dreaming of it.
"It does not work that way. They must perform well on the field to succeed."
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