Ireland Bring UAE's Unbeaten Run To An End

Ireland Bring UAE's Unbeaten Run To An End

Alex Cusack (right) celebrates grabbing the vital wicket of Saqib Ali.

©International Cricket Council

Ireland 152-7 (N O'Brien 46, Qadar Nawaz 3-23) beat
United Arab Emirates 130 (Saqib Ali 63) by 22 runs
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier Super Fours, Dubai
Scorecard

Ireland ended the United Arab Emirates' perfect record at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier with an 22-run win in the second Super Four game in Dubai.

The result means the tournament is set for an intriguing finale; after the Netherlands beat Afghanistan, all four teams are level on points so the remaining matches are effectively winner-takes-all affairs.

Ireland, boosted by another fine innings from Niall O'Brien, posted 152 for seven and the UAE were bowled out for 130 in reply.

O'Brien smashed 46 in 43 balls with a four and a six to keep Ireland's innings ticking along as the home side chipped in with wickets, Qadar Nawaz returning three for 23 and Saqib Ali two for 27.

William Porterfield thumped 22 in 13 balls and Trent Johnson 19 in as many deliveries.

In reply, Johnston's new-ball partner Peter Connell again enjoyed success at the top of the order, dismissing Mohammad Iqbal for eight and Fayyaz Ahmed for three and the run out of Arfan Haider without facing left the UAE struggling at 17 for three.

A superb effort of 63 in 49 balls from Saqib kept them in the match but his dismissal in the 17th over, along with that of Nawaz, by Alex Cusack, who returned three for 19, turned the game decisively in Ireland's favour, for which he was named as the man of the match. There was no way back for the UAE, who were then bowled out in 19.1 overs.

They now face Afghanistan in their final qualification match while Ireland play the Netherlands on 13th February.

© Cricket World 2010

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