Ireland fell agonisingly short of a first series win against a full-member nation following a two-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the second RSA Insurance one-day international in Dublin.
Ireland had seemed on course for an historic success until the eighth-wicket pair of Kamran Akmal and Wahab Riaz smashed 93 in 62 balls to break home hearts. Kamran’s 81 came from just 85 balls and Wahab Riaz finished unbeaten on 47.
Ed Joyce's first Ireland century had helped the hosts to 229 for nine on a seaming wicket before Pakistan folded to 17 for four in reply.
A giant-killing to match anything Ireland had achieved before appeared within their grasp until Kamran, who spent two seasons in Irish club cricket a decade ago, and Wahab launched their counter-attack.
When Kamran crunched Alex Cusack to the boundary to bring up his half-century Pakistan still required 81 from nine overs.
But when Wahab took 24 from Tim Murtagh's final over Pakistan needed just eight from 18 balls.
While Kamran did not see out the win, falling to Kevin O’Brien, Junaid Khan hit the winning runs with eight balls to spare.
It meant Ireland, who had been left deflated by the dramatic tie in Thursday's series opener, were left waiting for a first success over an elite nation in the Republic.