Ireland keep their powder dry ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Ireland captain William Porterfield defended his decision not to enforce the follow-on against the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah yesterday as the Intercontinental Cup clash ended in a draw on the final day.

Trent Johnston took three wickets in the morning session to pass the 250-mark for Ireland as the UAE finished on 360 for nine with Saqib Shah having been forced to retire hurt with an injured shoulder.

Rather than enforce the follow-on in an attempt to try and bowl out the home side a second time, Porterfield decided that sending his bowlers back out in boiling conditions after bowling almost 140 overs could have proved counter-productive with next week’s vital World Cup qualifiers to come.

Instead the captain showed just how good the pitch still was by scoring his ninth international century before declaring the second innings on 188 for three and ending the match.

Ireland claimed nine points from the draw thanks to their first-innings lead and are nine points ahead of Afghanistan in the table with two group matches left in the first-class competition. Porterfield said:

“It would have been hard on the bowlers to ask them to go out and do it again.”