DUBAI SCOREBOARD:IRELAND SENT old foes Scotland crashing out of the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier yesterday and immediately set their sights on exacting revenge over Afghanistan, the side that have become their nemesis in recent times.
Earlier, the Afghans had completed a clean sweep in Group A by beating the USA at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, leaving Ireland in a position where they could even lose to the Scots and still qualify for the Super Four stage.
But that was never countenanced as William Porterfield’s side walloped the Scots by 37 runs to remain in the hunt for one of the two spots on offer at May’s World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.
It still leaves Ireland needing to win their two Super Four games against hosts UAE and The Netherlands, and even that may not be enough if other results go against them.
Former skipper Trent Johnston, who took the man of the match honours with a devastating early spell of bowling, believes that momentum is now firmly with Ireland.
“We’ve bounced back the last two games and have shown the rest of the teams that we’re here to go through to the West Indies, and I think that the performance we put in tonight backed that up again,” he said.
Johnston took three wickets for 20 runs as the Scots were reduced to 12 for five in reply to Ireland’s total of 136 for seven.
Peter Connell was the other bowling hero, with two for 17 from his four, as Ireland’s new-ball pairing decimated the opposition for a second straight day.
The front-line bowlers’ efforts have been matched by the opening batsmen, and Porterfield, after winning his third straight toss, 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 Porterfield 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 with Gary Wilson and Andrew White both making 19.
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 by Connell and Johnston, while George Dockrell picked up two late wickets as they were bowled out for 99.
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.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s bid to gain full or enhanced membership of the International Cricket Council was discussed at their board meeting in Dubai over the last two days.
President David Morgan said yesterday that a three-step programme will be entered into, starting with a review of categories of membership.
TODAY:Afghanistan v Netherlands (8am Irish-time); Ireland v UAE (noon Irish-time).
At Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Ireland won the toss and batted.
IRELAND
W Porterfield run out 18
N O’Brien c Watts b Drummond 17
A Botha c Smith b Lyons 13
A Cusack lbw b Haq 2
G Wilson lbw b Haq 19
A White c Watts b Coetzer 19
J Mooney c Watts b Coetzer 10
K O’Brien not out 10
T Johnston not out 10
Extras (lb 9, w9) 18
–––––
Total (for 7 wkts, 20 ovs)136
Did not bat: P Connell, G Dockrell.
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-60, 3-62, 4-64, 6-95, 7-116, 8-116.
Bowling: D Nel 3-0-24-0; G Drummond 3-0-28-1; R Berrington 3-0-19-0; R Lyons 4-0-26-1; M Haq 4-0-16-2; K Coetzer 3-0-14-2.
SCOTLAND
F Watts c Cusack b Connell 1
G Hamilton lbw b Connell 5
R Berrington c Botha b Johnston 0
K Coetzer c Porterfield b Cusack 43
N McCallum c Botha b Johnston 0
J Stander c Mooney b Johnston 2
G Drummond c Wilson b Dockrell 35
S Smith run out 8
R Lyons c Johnston b Dockrell 0
M Haq not out 1
D Nel b K O’Brien 0
Extras (b1, lb3, w1) 5
–––––
Total (all out, 18.3 ovs) 99
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, 5-12, 6-74, 7-97, 8-97, 9-99.
Bowling: P Connell 4-0-17-2; T Johnston 4-1-20-3; A Cusack 3-0-21-1; A Botha 3-0-17-0; K O’Brien 2.3-0-11-1; G Dockrell 2-0-9-2.
Ireland won by 37 runs.
