Ireland have won the World T20 qualifying Tournament by 68 runs against Afghanistan. They have retained the title that they won in Dubai in march of last year and in the process run in the 4th highest total in the history of T20 International cricket, finishing on 225 for 7

Chasing 226 for victory Afghanistan came out blazing with Max Sorensen conceding 14 runs of the first 3 balls of the innings, but George Dockrell was introduced into the attack in the 4th over and clean bowled Mangal to interrupt the run riot.

In his next over Dockrell dismissed the Afghan’s key hitter, Shezad, caught by James Shannon for 38 off just 18 balls, all in boundaries. In the following over Alex Cusack took wickets with the last two balls of his second over and effectively ended any realistic chance of a Afghanistan victory.

Although Niab blasted 43 off 19 balls with 3 fours and 4 sixes he couldn't maintain that rate of scoring and eventually perished, caught on the boundary by John Mooney off the bowling of Trent Johnston. Trent followed up his dynamic 62 when Ireland batted ended up with 3 wickets and deservedly was awarded Man of the Match in his final limited over match for Ireland. Tim Murtagh hit the stumps with yorkers to take the final two wickets and Ireland won with seven balls to spare.

So Ireland head to Bangladesh in March where they will be in a group with Zimbabwe, UAE and Netherlands.

Odran Flynn

Image: Paul Stirling of Ireland batting
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