CRICKET:WITH EARLY morning temperatures touching 30 degrees in Colombo, Ireland got a warm-up in every sense of the word as they continued their preparations for the World Twenty20 with a comprehensive 54-run victory over Zimbabwe yesterday.

It makes it three wins out of three for Phil Simmons’s side ahead of their opening Group B game against Australia next Wednesday, and the coach will be delighted several key members of his side are continuing their rich vein of form ahead of the competition proper.

Niall O’Brien proved the star turn with the bat yesterday after Ireland were put in to bat at Moors Sports Club, with the left-hander continuing his fine late-summer form with Northamptonshire with a knock of 62 from 48 balls as Ireland posted a more than adequate target of 181 for five off their 20 overs.

O’Brien came to the wicket after both openers fell within the space of six deliveries, albeit after a healthy start that saw Ireland on 36 for two off 27 balls.

O’Brien shared the key stand of the innings with fellow left-hander Ed Joyce, with the pair putting on 83 in 57 balls before Joyce departed for 29, a ball after hitting Christopher Mpofu for the only six of his innings.

Mpofu would pick up a third wicket in his next over as Gary Wilson departed for two, but Ireland regained the impetus when Kevin O’Brien joined his older brother as they put on 46 in just 25 balls, before departing with two balls left in the innings with the score on 172.

After facing a wide, Trent Johnston hit a seventh maximum of the innings, with Kevin O’Brien finishing unbeaten on 30 off 145 balls.

Boyd Rankin then struck with his first delivery to remove opener Vusi Sibanda, while Johnston claimed Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor in his second over to leave the African side on 19 for two. Hamilton Masakadza and Craig Ervine went on the attack, targeting spinner George Dockrell in his first over as they took 13 runs from it.

The Somerset player took his revenge with the wickets of Masakadza (44 off 27) and Stuart Matsikenyeri with the final two deliveries of his next over and the game was up for Zimbabwe when Alex Cusack continued his golden touch with the ball with two in two deliveries in his first over to leave them 75 for six. Both Dockrell and Cusack went on to take a third wicket as Zimbabwe closed on 127 for eight from their 20 overs.

After missing the World T20 qualification tournament in the UAE after taking up a contract in the Bangladesh Premier League, Niall O’Brien admitted both his personal form and that of the squad bodes well for when the tournament proper.

“Sometimes we’ve been slow starters on tour before, but I think the discipline is very good, so there’s no excuses for us not to perform so we’ve just got to keep it going,” said O’Brien.

“Personally, it’s nice to get some runs early in the tour and thankfully in the past I’ve gone in to tournaments for Ireland in good form and hopefully that will continue this time around.”

Ireland complete their warm-up schedule with a game against Bangladesh next Monday.