DUBLIN, May 24: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq issued a stern warning to his side that they must improve in all three departments ahead of Sunday’s series decider with Ireland (partly reported in Friday’s edition).

Kevin O’Brien hit a dramatic boundary off the last ball of the first One-day International at a bitterly cold Clontarf Cricket Club Ground on Thursday to deny Pakistan victory and earn Ireland a dramatic tie.

Ireland needed 15 off the last over by spinner Saeed Ajmal, the number-one ranked bowler, but O’Brien hit the fourth ball for six to set up the thrilling finale. He could not manage a repeat off the last ball to win the game for the leading Associate country but the boundary brought about the 28th tie in the ODI history.

“Full credit to Ireland. They needed almost 10 an over for the last 12 overs but they batted well and we know we will have to improve our performance,” said Misbah.

In contrast, Ireland got so close to their revised victory target under D/L Method of 276 in 47 overs that the tie felt like a loss, according to O’Brien, whose unbeaten 84 from 47 deliveries with 11 boundaries and a brace of sixes was his highest score for Ireland since his century masterminded the shock of the 2011 World Cup, when the Irish defeated England in Bangalore.

“To come so close and not get over the line is tough to take but when we have time to reflect I suppose it will be easier to take,” said O’Brien.

In contrast, Pakistan were trying to take the positives from a game they were always winning until the last ball of the game.

They hit 144 off the last 16 overs, after the fourth and final rain delay of the match, to reach 266 for five with Mohammad Hafeez scoring 122 not out, and would have been confident of defending Ireland’s revised target of 276.

Ireland had famously beaten Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup but they were never favourites to win this one.

The tourists always appeared to hold the upper hand, getting wickets at vital times, but they will look back at the chance O’Brien gave to Mohammad Irfan, when he was only 19, as the one that got away and ultimately cost them victory.

Saeed’s figures of 0-71 were his worst in 80 One-day Internationals.

On the day, he was out-bowled by spin twin Hafeez who finished with two for 34 while Irfan had to make do with the wicket of Stirling.

Junaid Khan also picked up two wickets but he conceded six runs an over.

“Missed catches are part of the game,” Asad Shafiq said. “We were hoping for a tough encounter. Playing a match like this is very good preparation for the Champions Trophy. Ireland played very well. We were hoping to take wickets with the new ball but it didn’t go our way.

“Their opening pair batted well. The ball did not seam or turn as expected. It was a very good wicket to bat on.”

Asad took advantage and shared a second wicket stand of 188 with Hafeez, his contribution a one-day career best 84. “To get the highest score always feels good,” he added. “But I’m disappointed I didn’t get a century. It was on my mind.” —Agencies

Scoreboard PAKISTAN: Imran Farhat c Stirling b Cusack 9 Nasir Jamshed c Murtagh b K.J. O’Brien 20 Mohammad Hafeez not out 122 Asad Shafiq c Johnston b Cusack 84 Misbah-ul-Haq run out 0 Kamran Akmal b K.J. O’Brien 13 Shoaib Malik not out 1 EXTRAS (B-2, LB-2, W-13) 17 TOTAL (for five wkts, 47 overs) 266 FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-221, 3-231, 4-231, 5-261. DID NOT BAT: Ehsan Adil, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan. NOTE: Nasir Jamshed (15) retired hurt at 27-0 and resumed at 221-2. BOWLING: Johnston 10-2-53-0 (3w); Murtagh 9-0-40-0 (2w); Cusack 8-0-50-2 (2w); K.J. O’Brien 5-0-43-2; Dockrell 10-0-45-0 (1w); Stirling 5-0-31-0. IRELAND: W.T.S. Porterfield c Asad b Hafeez 19 P.R. Stirling c sub b Irfan 103 E.C. Joyce b Hafeez 32 K.J. O’Brien not out 84 G.J. Wilson b Junaid 11 N.J. O’Brien c Irfan b Junaid 4 D.T. Johnston not out 7 EXTRAS (LB-8, W-7) 15 TOTAL (for five wkts, 47 overs) 275 FALL OF WKTS: 1-62, 2-158, 3-171, 4-230, 5-240. DID NOT BAT: A.R. Cusack, A.R. White, D.T. Johnston, G.H. Dockrell, T.J. Murtagh. BOWLING: Mohammad Irfan 10-0-57-1 (4w); Junaid Khan 9-1-54-2 (2w); Ehsan Ali 3-0-17-0; Mohammad Hafeez 9-0-34-2; Shoaib Malik 6-0-34-0 (1w); Saeed Ajmal 10-0-71-0. RESULT: Match tied (Ireland’s target 276 in 47 overs – D/L Method). UMPIRES: R.P. Smith (Ireland) and I.J. Gould (England) MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand). MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Kevin O’Brien. SECOND MATCH: Dublin, Sunday.