Cricket:Ireland showed just why they are ranked as the top side in Associate cricket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium this afternoon, as they beat old foes Scotland by 37 runs to secure a place in the Super Four stage of the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier.
After Afghanistan had completed their clean sweep in Group A by beating the USA in the morning, Ireland knew they could even lose to the Scots and still qualify for the last four.
But that was never countenanced as William Porterfield’s side showed that Monday’s loss to the Afghans is now history as they go in search of one of the two spots on offer at May’s World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.
Porterfield won his third straight toss and joined Niall O’Brien in another whistle-stop start as they put on 31 in 22 balls before O’Brien holed out for 17.
Andre Botha joined his skipper and they pushed the score to 60 before a calamitous run out saw the skipper go for 18 after both players were stranded at the same end.
Botha would depart in the same over for 13 and Ireland were reduced to 64 for four in the ninth when Alex Cusack was trapped leg-before by off-spinner Majid Haq,
That they eventually pushed on to make 136 for seven was not down to any one innings of note, but a steady accumulation from the middle order.
Gary Wilson and Andrew White both made 19, while John Mooney, Kevin O’Brien and Trent Johnston made ten each, the latter duo finishing unbeaten.
Scotland were tasked with winning the game within 15 overs to better Ireland’s Net Run Rate, but any hopes they had were blown apart as opening bowlers Peter Connell and Johnston ripped through a top-order for the second straight day.
Yesterday, USA were reduced to 11 for five, with Scotland today adding an extra run for the same loss as Connell (2-17) and Johnston (3-20) excelled again.
Durham’s Kyle Coetzer made a belligerent 43 off 39 balls before holing out to Porterfield off Alex Cusack’s bowling but it was to have no affect on the outcome as Scotland lost by 37 runs, with George Dockrell picking up two late wickets.
With the UAE unbeaten in Group B, Ireland will start the Super Four stages behind the eight ball as the hosts and Afghanistan both carry forward two points.
Ireland will likely need to win both their fixtures to go through to the final and earn a place in the Caribbean and they open against the UAE tomorrow (12pm Irish time).
They will then face Netherlands on Saturday at the same time. The final takes place tomorrow night (4pm Irish time) with all games taking place in Dubai.
SCORES
Ireland136-7 (20 ovs) (G Wilson 19, A White 19, W Porterfield 18, N O'Brien 17; K Coetzer 2-17, M Haq 2-16), Scotland99 (18.3 ovs) (K Coetzer 33, G Drummond 35; T Johnston 3-20, G Dockrell 2-9, P Connell 2-17). Ireland won by 37 runs.
IRELAND’S SUPER FOUR FIXTURES
Tomorrow: v UAE, Dubai (12pm Irish time). Saturday: v Netherlands, Dubai (12pm Irish time).