Sport

Ireland make it 20 straight T20 qualifier victories with USA win

Two from two for John Bracewell’s side as Americans are bowled out for 100

Ireland bowler Stuart Thompson bowls USA batsman Adil Bhatti during the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at Stormont in Belfast. Photograph: William Cherry/Inpho/Presseye
Ireland bowler Stuart Thompson bowls USA batsman Adil Bhatti during the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at Stormont in Belfast. Photograph: William Cherry/Inpho/Presseye
Sun Jul 12 2015 - 17:11

Ireland made it a triumphant 20 straight victories in World T20 qualifiers when they beat the United States by 46 runs at Stormont in Belfast on Sunday morning.

John Bracewell’s side are now two from two in this year’s event, with their overall winning streak stretching back to 2012.

Andrew Balbirnie hit 44 from 34 balls as Ireland recorded a 46 run win over USA at Stormont to make it two from two in the ICC World T20 Qualifier.

Having lost the toss and being asked to bat, Ireland's innings didn't get off to the best of starts as Paul Stirling was bowled by Hammad Shahid first ball of the third over with just nine runs on the board.

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The Ireland batsmen found it tough to get into their stride and Niall O’Brien was out not long after for seven.

Porterfield (10) and Kevin O’Brien (23) set about rescuing the Ireland innings from a precarious position of 22 for two, but it was the arrival of Andrew Balbirnie to the wicket that gave the Ireland innings impetus. He rode his luck somewhat, with two chances going down, but his 44 from 34 balls pushed the home side towards a defendable total.

Unbeaten knocks of 20 from John Mooney and 15 from Stuart Thompson helped finish the innings strongly for Ireland with a flurry of boundaries bringing the score to 146 for six.

The USA's response also got off to a poor start with Akeem Dodson clean bowled by Alex Cusack second ball of the innings with just one run on the board.

Despite a number of big shots, the USA response never gained any momentum with Ireland taking wickets regularly as no batsman passed the 20 run mark.

Seamers Cusack (2-19), Stuart Thompson (2-20) & John Mooney (2-17) all took two wickets each with Cusack wrapping things up with the third ball of the 17th over as the USA were bowled out for 100.

Ireland are next in action on Monday afternoon at Stormont when they take on Nepal. The match starts at 2.15pm.

Ireland 146-6 (20 ovs) (A Balbirnie 44, K O'Brien 23, J Mooney 20no; T Patel 3-13, H Shahid 2-36), USA 100 (16.3 ovs) (J Mooney 2-17, A Cusack 2-19, S Thompson 2-20). Ireland won by 46 runs.