Cricket:Ireland have eased to an eight-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in their final warm-up game ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers in Pretoria.
Gary Wilson and Regan West took the honours with bat and ball respectively, offering coach Phil Simmons a boost ahead of Wednesday’s key opening clash against Scotland.
With Andre Botha and Kyle McCallan both injury doubts for the opener Simmons went with his strongest available side and was rewarded with their best display since arriving in South Africa.
West claimed his second straight four-wicket haul as the UAE were bowled out for 132; the left-arm spinner finishing with figures of four for 21 off his 10 overs. With veteran spinner McCallan still struggling to overcome a rib injury, the former New Zealand Under-19 player’s fine form could not have come at a better time.
Peter Connell and Alex Cusack picked up two wickets apiece, while Trent Johnston and Kevin O’Brien claimed a victim each as they UAE were bowled out in the 44th over.
Despite losing skipper William Porterfield (10) and Eoin Morgan (12), Wilson continued his fine form with a second half-century in three matches, finishing unbeaten on 83 off 102 deliveries as Ireland reached their target in the 35th over.
Niall O’Brien joined the Surrey player after the departure of Morgan, with the two wicket-keepers putting on an unbeaten 78, O’Brien finishing unbeaten on 21.
Meanwhile, Scotland lost their final warm-up game, going down by seven runs to Kenya in Benoni.
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER WARM-UP MATCH
At Pretoria Boys High School: UAE 132 (43.1 ovs) (Saqib Ali 29; R West 4-21, A Cusack 2-10, P Connell 2-31), Ireland 134-2 (34.3 ovs) (G Wilson 83no, N O’Brien 21no). Ireland won by 8 wkts.
