Published: Feb 25, 2015, 08:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 25, 2015, 08:54 PM (IST)
Ireland squared off against United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time in One-Day Internationals (ODI) during their Pool B match in Brisbane. Both played only their second game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. While Ireland came in the match after a victory over West Indies, UAE had lost to Zimbabwe in a close game. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Full coverage)
Ireland won the toss and put UAE into bat. UAE got off to a decent start with a 49-run opening stand but kept losing wickets to find themselves six down for 131. Opener Amjad Ali (45) scored the bulk of runs at the start before getting out when the score was 73. It was in the 35th over that Shaiman Anwar (106), who was already at the crease, was joined by Amjad Javed (42). They put up 107-runs at a healthy run-rate which helped UAE to reach a score of 278 for nine in 50 overs. For Ireland, Paul Stirling (2-27) made a huge impact while Alex Cusack (2-54), Max Sorensen (2-60) and Kevin O’Brien (2-61) all chipped in picking a couple of wickets.
In response, Ireland won a thriller beating UAE by two wickets with four balls to spare. At one point, Ireland were in a spot of bother when UAE bowlers bowled a tight line to restrict the scoring opportunities. But pockets of partnerships (68 for the second wicket, 74 for the fifth wicket and 72 for the sixth wicket) helped the Irish team to get over the line. Gary Wilson (80 off 69 balls) and Kevin O’Brien (50 off 25 balls) were the two key batsmen while they were aided by William Porterfield (37), Ed Joyce (37) and Andy Balbirnie (30) in the chase. Amjad Javed (3-60) was the pick of the bowlers for UAE while Mohammad Tauqir (two for 38) and Mohammad Naveed (two for 65) picked up wickets at important intervals.
With this victory, Ireland moves to the third spot in the points table with two wins out of two matches. They next face South Africa on March 3. UAE on the other hand with their two defeats are sixth on the table ahead of Pakistan. They next face India on February 28. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Points Table)
Brief scores:
UAE 278 for eight in 50 overs (Shaiman Anwar 106, Amjad Ali 45, Amjad Javed 42; Paul Stirling 2-27, Alex Cusack 2-54, Max Sorensen 2-60, Kevin O’Brien 2-61) lost to Ireland 279 for eight in 49.2 overs (Gary Wilson 80, Kevin O’Brien 50, William Porterfield 37, Ed Joyce 37; Amjad Javed 3-60, Mohammad Tauqir 2-38, Mohammad Naveed 2-65) by two wickets.
