Cricket:Ireland got back to winning ways in devastating fashion at the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier today as they hammered the United States by 78 runs in their Group A clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
In doing so, Ireland set their highest T20 score of 202 for four, with Niall O’Brien’s 84 also a new Irish mark in the shortest form of the game.
The US reply was decimated by Ireland’s opening bowlers as Peter Connell had luck on his side for a change in setting another new Irish record with four wickets for 14 off his four overs.
Trent Johnston took two for 17 at the other end to reduce the US to 25 for six in the seventh over as Ireland set about boosting their Net Run Rate.
The seventh-wicket pairing of Aditya Thyagarajan and Orlando Baker helped the US back towards some semblance of respectability. A fine unbeaten stand of 99 will concern Ireland coach Phil Simmons as they batted out their 20 overs to finish on 124 for six.
Thyagarajan proved the hero, finishing on 72 not out from 67 balls, while Baker was unbeaten on 28.
O’Brien was named man of the match for his innings, his third half-century of the tour. Skipper William Porterfield continued his fine form with the bat, putting on 83 for the first wicket with O’Brien before he departed for 45 off 28 balls.
O’Brien brought up his 50 off 32 deliveries with a massive six over long-on, but the Northamptonshire player perished with three figures in sight when he top-edged to third man after a second-wicket partnership of 89 from 51 balls with Alex Cusack.
There was still time for Cusack to make his best T20 score for Ireland as he hit 46 from 30 as Ireland went past the 200 mark.
Earlier Afghanistan beat Scotland by 14 runs to all but end their chances of qualifying for the Super Fours ahead of the meeting with Ireland in Dubai tomorrow afternoon.
The result means the Afghans have now booked a place in the last four and they will take through the two points they gained in yesterday’s victory.
Ireland now lie second in the table on run rate and will need to lose heavily tomorrow to the Scots and for Afghanistan to lose to the US not to make the last four.
SCORE
Ireland 202-4(20 ovs) (N O'Brien 84, A Cusack 46, W Porterfield 45),
USA 124-6(20 ovs) (A Thyagarajan 72no, O Baker 28no; P Connell 4-14, T Johnston 2-17).
Ireland won by 78 runs.