Cricket:Ireland made a faltering start to their World Twenty20 qualifying campaign in Dubai this morning as they went down to a four-run defeat to Namibia in their opening Group B fixture.
Ireland coach Phil Simmons's had marked the African nation down as one of the dangerous hurdles in the group stages and they certainly lived up to their billing on a scorching hot morning in the emirate.
Deciding to bat after winning the toss, Namibia got off to a flyer despite George Dockrell taking a wicket with the final ball of a first over that cost 15 runs.
By the end of the seventh over they had moved on to 76 for one before Ireland's bowlers began to claw things back. Off-spinner Paul Stirling played a huge part in that, taking three wickets for 20 runs in his four overs, while left-armer Dockrell finished with three for 30 as Namibia posted 160 for eight off their 20 overs.
Stirling was bowled round his legs for a duck in the first over, while skipper William Porterfield was run out following a mix-up with Alex Cusack in the third as Ireland struggled early on.
Kevin O'Brien looked well set after hitting four boundaries before a rash shot saw him depart for 20, and when Cusack and Ed Joyce were out without reaching double figures, it left Ireland on 65 for five in the 11th over and in need of a decent partnership.
It came in the shape of Gary Wilson and John Mooney, who pushed the Namibian fielders around by finding the gaps and also taking the aerial route on occasion.
Their sixth-wicket stand was worth 71 from just 42 deliveries before Wilson was deceived by a slower ball just one shy of his half-century to leave Ireland on 136 for six and needing 25 runs from the last 14 deliveries to win.
It was well within their reach, but when Trent Johnston went off the last ball of the 18th over and just five runs came off the next, 18 were needed off the last six balls.
Mooney reverse swept the first for four but after running a two off the next ball was then sent back by Andrew White looking for another two and was run out for 38.
White hit a four and a single, in which Boyd Rankin was sacrificed to a run out, to leave Ireland needing a six off the last ball. There were to be no late heroics though as White could only manage a single.
Ireland lost their opening qualifying game to Afghanistan in Dubai two years' ago before going on to qualify for the finals. They need to get back on track quickly tomorrow when they take on a Kenyan side they beat 3-0 in a recent T20 series.
SCORES
Namibia 160-8 (20 ovs)(L van der Westhuizen 34, R van Schoor 31, S Burger 21; P Stirling 3-20, G Dockrell 3-30, A Cusack 2-26).
Ireland 156-9 (20 ovs)(G Wilson 49, J Mooney 38, K O'Brien 20; L van der Westhuizen 2-20).
Namibia won by 4 runs.
