CRICKET/ICC World League:Ireland supporters won't be able to take much more of this. For the second time in as many days, Adrian Birrell's side played their part in a thriller yesterday in the ICC World Cricket League Division One. This time, having been beaten off the last ball against Scotland on Tuesday, they mercifully came out on the right side as they eventually got the better of Bermuda by four wickets.
Coach Birrell is a nervous spectator at the best of times but in the last couple of days he must have lost serious weight from all the extra pacing up and down he has done.
He can take many positives out of yesterday's performance. Firstly, and crucially, Ireland are still in this tournament.
The batting of William Porterfield (112 not out) and Kevin O'Brien (54 off 56 balls) will boost the stock of those two young players still establishing themselves at this level.
And the fact that his team were able successfully to chase such a high total as 275 will give confidence to a side shattered by Tuesday's demoralising ordeal.
There are still areas for concern, however. Huge areas.
The opening bowlers yesterday, Trent Johnston and Boyd Rankin, conceded 60 off nine overs without taking a wicket, illustrating that Ireland have yet to find consistency in that vital area of the game.
Thirty-five extras is far too many at this level and the fielding, such a positive part of Ireland's performance on Tuesday, let them down with several catching chances going abegging.
In general, the seam bowlers did not impress. Andre Botha took three wickets but went for 74 off his 10 overs and Paul Mooney's three overs cost 17 runs. O'Brien (2 for 38) showed how it could be done, though, keeping it tight and picking up the big wickets of Lionel Cann and David Hemp in the Bermudan middle order.
And the spin duo of Kyle McCallan and Andy White also came to the rescue. Indeed, they had made the initial breakthroughs, removing openers Dean Minors (51) and Clay Smith (52) after Bermuda had got off to a flier having lost the toss and been asked to bat by Ireland captain Johnston. McCallan ended with figures of 1 for 38 off 10 and White 2 for 44 as they managed to reduce the run-rate significantly just when it looked like Bermuda might run away with it.
As it was some of the Irish contingent at the pleasant Jaffery Sports Club ground in Nairobi must have feared the worst as their team were set 276 to win.
But a solid start from Porterfield and Kenny Carroll set the platform as they put on 78 for the first wicket before Carroll was caught by Saleem Mukuddem off the bowling of Malachi Jones for 28. Eoin Morgan departed shortly after for nought and then Niall O'Brien made a quick 25 before he was out.
This brought brother Kevin to the crease and the big Railway Union man soon cruised to his maiden half-century for his country. When he was caught by Jones off the excellent left-arm spin of Dwayne Leverock there was another stutter as Botha and then McCallan went cheaply. Birrell's heart-rate was rising but all the time, Porterfield was standing firm.
Along with a couple of savage blows from Johnston, Porterfield guided the side home to a nervy but ultimately satisfying four-wicket win with just eight balls to spare.
"We played poorly but still managed to win and I suppose an ugly win is still good for team morale," said Birrell.
"In fairness our batters did well chasing a big target but our fielding and bowling was poor and we need to improve on that very soon. We have to because we can't get any worse than that," he said.
Elsewhere, Kenya had an easy seven-wicket win over the Netherlands at Gymkhana while Scotland beat Canada in another tight game by just eight runs at Rauraka. Today is a rest day but tomorrow Ireland take on Kenya in a must-win game for Birrell's men.
Division One Scoreboard
BERMUDA
C Smith lbw McCallan 52
D Minors c and b While 51
I Romaine c K O'Brien b White 26
L Cann c McCallan b K O'Brien 44
D Hemp c Carroll b K O'Brien 35
J Tucker b Botha 12
S Mukuddem c Rankin b Botha 7
M Jones b Botha 2
K Hurdle not out 10
D Borden not out 1
Extras (5lb, 5nb, 25w) 35
Total(for 8, 50 overs) 275
Fall:79, 158, 162, 237, 241, 256, 263, 263
Bowling:Johnston 5-0-35-0, Rankin 4-0-25-0, P Mooney 3-0-17-0, O'Brien 8-1-38-2, Botha 10-0-74-3, McCallan 10-2-37-1, White 10-0-44-2.
IRELAND
W Porterfield not out 112
K Carroll c Mukuddem b Jones 28
E Morgan c Jones b Tucker 0
N O'Brien c Tucker b Leverock 25
K O'Brien c Jones b Leverock 54
A Botha c Jones b Borden 9
K McCallan b Borden 4
T Johnston not out 13
Extras(4b, 7lb, 4nb, 16w) 31
Total (for 6, 48.4 overs) 276
DNB:A White, P Mooney, B Rankin
Fall:78, 79, 135, 223, 243, 256
Bowling:Mukuddem 8-1-41-0, Jones 7-1-38-1, Hurdle 3-0-29-0, Tucker 10-0-43-1, Borden 8-0-58-2, Leverock 10-0-34-2, Cann 2.4-0-22-0
Ireland won by 6 wickets
Man of the match:William Porterfield (Ireland)
