CRICKET:IRELAND WON through to the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier after an amazing, and at times farcical, four-run Duckworth Lewis victory over Bermuda here last night.

If you thought Twenty20 was exciting, well think again, as this nine-overs-a-side match set heart rates soaring as Ireland kept alive their hopes of making next year's finals in England.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat despite the forecasted rain, Ireland got off to a disastrous start and were 41 for four off eight overs when a deluge stopped play for two hours.

If their mood was poor before the break, it was downright appalling when they found out that they would have just six deliveries to add to their score.

Going in cold after such a delay didn't help matters as Ireland could add only two runs while three wickets fell as they finished on 43 for seven.

Bermuda were set a new target of 46 off nine overs, but there was another figure in mind for Ireland and that was to make sure they took until after the eighth over to do it as the run rate would put Phil Simmons's side through to the semi-finals on run rate.

In the end some stunning bowling from Peter Connell, Andre Botha and Alex Cusack restricted Bermuda to 41 for eight at the end as they won the group and set up a semi-final clash with Kenya this morning (9.30).

Connell struck first ball, Chris Foggo skying the ball for sub fielder Thinus Fourie to catch.

Two balls later the North Down player took the key scalp when Glamorgan's David Hemp nicked behind to wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien.

Two wickets for two runs in the first over was the perfect start but the Bermudans got back ahead when Kevin O'Brien's first over went for 10.

Connell wrested back the initiative with the third ball of his second over when he trapped Stephen Outerbridge leg-before.

Andre Botha was the perfect man for the pressure situation and he struck with his third ball, Niall O'Brien stumping James Celestine. Dot balls were as worthy a currency as wickets and Botha would go on to take the wicket of Irving Romaine in a two-over spell that cost just four runs.

Bermuda needed 18 off the last two overs, but needed to get the same number of runs off Trent Johnston in the penultimate over to knock Ireland out and progress themselves.

Kevin O'Brien came back from his poor first over to bowl the last for just six runs and Ireland had earned an improbable victory and remain in with a chance of a place in the World Cup.