Ireland will play Afghanistan for a third straight time in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier in Abu Dhabi on Saturday after beating hosts the United Arab Emirates by 62 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
An Irish record Twenty20 sixth-wicket stand of 55 in 32 balls from Trent Johnston and John Mooney helped rescue Ireland from a poor start on a slow and low track as they went on to make 147 for eight under the lights.
Playing his third-last match for Ireland, Johnston top-scored with a brilliant knock of 35 off just 18 balls, hitting five fours and a six.
The 39-year-old was well supported by Mooney as they rebuilt the innings following Kevin O’Brien’s departure after he had made 31.
North County all-rounder Mooney lasted until the final over before departing for 29 with Ireland scoring 38 runs off the last three overs to take the game away from the UAE.
Ireland’s bowlers continued the momentum after the break, with Max Sorensen taking the first four wickets in a brilliant four-over spell in which he conceded just 15 runs and bowled 20 dot balls, while Tim Murtagh came back from a poor first over to claim four for 25 as the UAE were bowled out for 85 , their lowest T20 total.
ICC WORLD TWENTY20 QUALIFIER SEMI-FINAL
(at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi): Ireland won the toss and batted.
IRELAND
W Porterfield c sub b Guruge 7
P Stirling b Guruge 17
J Shannon lbw b Silva 7
K O'Brien lbw b Aziz 31
G Wilson c Silva b Mustafa 3
J Mooney c Javed b Garuge 29
T Johnston b Mustafa 35
M Sorensen run out 5
G Dockrell not out 0
A Cusack not out 4
Extras (lb7 w2) 9
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 ovs) 147
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-30, 3-36, 4-42, 5-83, 6-138, 7-140, 8-143.
Did not bat: T Murtagh
Bowling: S Silva 3-0-19-1; M Garuge 4-0-21-3; A Javed 2-0-11-0; R Mustafa 4-0-23-2; A Khurshid 2-0-15-0; N Aziz 4-0-43-1; K Khan 1-0-8-0.
UAE
M Azam c Cusack b Sorensen 1
S Anwar b Sorensen 13
A Javed c Shannon c Sorensen 19
K Khan lbw b Sorensen 0
S Patil c Dockrell b O'Brien 16
R Mustafa st Wilson b Stirling 19
M Shafiq c O'Brien b Murtagh 0
A Khurshid c Wilson b Murtagh 0
N Aziz b Murtagh 2
S Silva c Johnston b Murtagh 8
M Garuge not out 0
Extras (b4, lb1, w2) 7
Total (all out, 17.4 ovs) 85
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-26, 3-26, 4-45, 5-60, 6-62, 7-62, 8-68, 9-85.
Bowling: M Sorensen 4-1-15-4; T Murtagh 4-1-25-4; T Johnston 3-0-10-0; A Cusack 2-0-6-0; K O'Brien 3-0-18-1; P Stirling 1.4-0-6-1.
Ireland win by 62 runs and play Afghanistan in the final.
