Ireland retained their position at the top of Group A in the World T20 Qualifier, with a 48 run victory over Uganda today in Abu Dhabi.
Having scored 147 for 4 wickets in their 20 overs Ireland restricted Uganda to 99 for 7 wickets in reply. Ireland won the toss and batted on a warm and dry day, contrary to the weather forecast, with William Porterfield and Paul Stirling setting off in similar vein to Wednesday’s run riot against the USA. However with the score on 35 in the fifth over Stirling, who had lost his timing in the previous over, skied a swirling catch to mid-on and departed for 16 off 18 balls with 3 fours. Porterfield was joined by Niall O’Brien and they added 22 off the next 17 balls when Porterfield was caught of an orthodox sweep to short fine leg. Ironically Porterfield had hit a series of reverse sweeps to the boundary to supplement scorching extra cover drives and a six smashed over the mid-wicket rope. His 33 came of just 17 balls and contained 6 fours and the aforementioned six.
Niall O’Brien, who remarkably played out a maiden in the final over of the powerplay, was joined by brother Kevin and while they added 25 of the next four overs neither was able to find the boundary. Kevin fell to a diving catch at long on for 14 trying to force the pace, having just survived a caught and bowled chance. Ireland only managed to accumulate 44 runs from the start of the 8th over until the end of the 14th.
Uganda's Henry Senyondo bowls to Kevin O'Brien of Ireland”¨ © 2013 IDI/Getty Images
While the wicket was slow, Gary Wilson, who subsequently got Man of the Match, demonstrated that with the right intent quick runs were possible. In partnership with Niall O’Brien 61 runs were added until Wilson was caught on the boundary for 40 of the penultimate ball of the innings. His knock was embellished by 3 fours and a six. Niall finished with a more sedate 35 not out of 41 balls including just 2 fours. The Ugandan captain Frank Nsubuga produced a fine spell of off spin, taking the wicket of the belligerent Porterfield and bowled the maiden over to Niall O’Brien, conceding just 17 runs in his four overs.
Against a stronger batting line up than Uganda possessed 147 runs might have been a difficult total to defend. However throughout the Tournament the Africans had no depth to their batting and so it proved again today. Trent Johnston made the initial breakthrough by ripping out the leg stump of opening bat Ziraba with his third ball and then Tim Murtagh bowled the second maiden over of the match during the power play.
The spin twins of George Dockrell and Paul Stirling then squeezed the life out of the Ugandan innings when they conceded only 37 runs between them off 8 overs and also took 2 wickets apiece. Dockrell, who has recaptured his rhythm, had figures of 2 for 12 with Stirling returning 2 for 23. Max Sorensen produced a fiery spell of bowling at the end of the innings as Ireland’s victory march wound to its inevitable conclusion.
A win today was the main goal and while the performance wasn’t the most sparkling it takes Ireland to the cusp of automatic qualification. Ireland go into their final group game on Sunday at 10am Irish time needing to beat Hong Kong in a winner takes all encounter for a guaranteed place in Bangladesh.
Main image: William Porterfield in action”¨ © 2013 IDI/Getty Images
