CRICKET WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:CAPTAINS PAST and present played the key roles with ball and bat at SuperSport Park in Centurion yesterday as Ireland trounced Canada by nine wickets to win the World Cup qualifier for the first time.
It was fitting present incumbent William Porterfield was at the wicket when Ireland chased down Canada’s total of 185, the Gloucestershire left-hander finishing unbeaten on 104, his second century of a tournament in which he has scored 515 runs. It wasn’t enough to earn him man of the match as Trent Johnston’s intervention earlier proved the key as he claimed five Canadian wickets for just 14 runs to set an Ireland One Day International record.
Porterfield was quick to acknowledge the contribution of Johnston, whom he took over from as captain. “He was playing with a bit of a niggle but he was able to pull through. The way he bowled today was phenomenal and he deserved to be man of the match. He’s just an inspirational lad to have on the field,” said Porterfield. “They got off to a flying start but the way Trent came on and bowled his 10 overs brought us right back into the game.”
Johnston’s dramatic introduction in the 11th over was the cue for an implosion in the Canadian innings that had been rolling along at close to seven an over. Umar Bhatti helped Canada make a recovery, scoring 46 before he was run out after a 54-run ninth-wicket partnership with Khurram Chauhan, who fell the same way the next ball to wrap up the innings for 185 with two overs remaining.
Porterfield and Gary Wilson built a steady opening stand and had put on 89 before Wilson went for 38. After bringing up his half-century off 80 deliveries, Porterfield started to move through the gears alongside Niall O’Brien. He passed the 500-run mark in the tournament when he made it to 89 and followed it up with his second century with a four through extra cover. That was the 13th four of his innings and just two balls later O’Brien struck the winning boundary as Ireland triumphed in the only competition in Associate cricket that they had yet to win.
