Cricket:Ireland got their World Twenty20 qualifying campaign back on track in the most emphatic of fashions in Dubai this morning as they hammered Kenya by 10 wickets at the international stadium.
An opening day loss to Namibia had put Ireland on the back foot in their bid to claim one of the two places at next September’s finals in Sri Lanka. But led by a brilliant bowling display that saw Kenya skittled for just 71, and a lightening-fast half century from skipper William Porterfield they made short work of African opposition this time around.
Ireland’s bowlers had let Namibia get off to a flyer yesterday, but this time the discipline and accuracy were there from the first ball, with Boyd Rankin setting the early tone by taking three wickets in his first two overs.
All five bowlers used took wickets, with only Kenya’s top bat Tanmay Mishra making double figures, making 28 off 32 balls before being caught at long-on by Alex Cusack off the bowling of John Mooney.
Rankin proved the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 20 from his four overs, with Cusack, Mooney and spinner George Dockrell taking two apiece, with Dockrell wrpping up Kenya’s innings with an over to spare.
Ireland didn’t hang around in chasing down their target, with Porterfield hitting a 25-ball half century that included eight fours and two sixes.
He finished on 56 not out, hitting the winnings runs off the second ball of the eighth over, with Paul Stirling unbeaten on 15 at the other end.
Ireland move to Abu Dhabi to play Italy in their next Group B match tomorrow.
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