Saturday, Mar 24, 2012
Gulf News
Dubai Kevin O’Brien steered Ireland to the second qualifying final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 qualifiers through yet another allround performance stopping Netherlands by seven wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
O’Brien, who stunned England with the fastest century in World Cup cricket last year, choked the Netherlands run flow with a spell of two wickets for 17 runs and hit an unbeaten 30 off just 22 balls with three sixes and one boundary.
Ireland will take on Namibia at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium from 10am and the winner will join Afghanistan as the second team to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. The winner will also take on Afghanistan from 6pm under lights which will decide the winner of the tournament.
Speaking to Gulf News, Namibia skipper Sarel Burger said: “We have played great amount of good cricket during the tournament. We are on a roll at the moment and we need to take the defeat against Afghanistan on our chin and get up and go forward. The defeat to Afghanistan is our first loss in the tournament and that itself is a motivation to do better in our coming match.”
‘Out for revenge’
O’Brien is equally confident that his team will stop Namibia and said: “We are out for revenge after losing our first game to Namibia. After our defeat we’ve won eight matches in a row and we are full of confidence.”
Though Ireland won the toss they put Netherlands into bat.
Boyd Rankin struck the first blow by clean bowling Michael Swart for 3. Trent Johnston dismissed the other opener Stephan Myburg caught by his skipper William Porterfield for 2.
Both the openers back in the pavilion by the fifth over, Alexei Kervezee and Tom Cooper quickly settled down to add 55 runs for the third wicket before Kevin O’Brien provided the breakthrough by trapping Cooper leg before for 26.
Bowled tightly
Kervezee reached his half century in 42 balls. Wesley Barresi, who added 26 runs with Kervezee for the fourth wicket got run out for 6.
Three balls later, at the score on 100, Kervezee too departed caught and bowled by George Dockrell for 56 off 48 balls with three fours and a six.
Ireland bowled tightly and picked two more wickets and restricted Netherlands to 114 for 7. Chasing the score, Ireland won with 20 balls to spare, riding on O’Brien’s knock and opener Paul Stirling’s 33.
Fixtures
At Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Preiliminary Final - Ireland v Namibia (10am-1pm)
Final - Afghanistan v Winner of Ireland v Namibia (6pm-9pm)
Results
Preliminary final: Ireland bt Netherlands by seven wickets. Netherlands 114 for 7 in 20 overs (Alexei Kervezee 56, Tom Cooper 26; Kevin O’Brien 2 for 17) Ireland 115 for 3 in 16.4 overs (Paul Stirling 33, Ed Joyce 25 n.o., Kevin O’Brien 30 n.o.; Michael Swart 2 for 23) Man of the Match: Kevin O’Brien.
Play-offs: Scotland bt Canada by four wickets. Canada 135 for 8 in 20 overs (Ruvindu Gunasekera 20, Harvir Baidwan 21; Richie Berrington 2 for 14, Moneeb Iqbal 2 for 15)
Scotland 136 for 6 in 20 overs (Richie Berrington 47, Kyle Coetzer 22, Junaid Siddiqui 2 for 12) Man of the match: Richie Berrington.
Kenya bt Italy by 38 runs. Kenya 170-5, 20 overs (Maurice Ouma 51 n.o., Collins Obuya 41; Vince Pennazza 2 for 33) Italy 132 in 18.3 overs (Peter Petricola 37, Andy Northcote 35; Hiren Varraiya 4 for 25, Shem Ngoche 3 for 32). Man of the Match: Hiren Varaiya.
Nepal bt PNG by six wickets PNG 129 for 5 in 20 overs (Vani Morea 34 n.o.,Christopher Kent 22, Tony Ura 21; Shakti Gauchan 2 for 20) Nepal 133 for 4 in 19.5 overs (Paras Khadka 62 n.o., Prithu Baskota 26 n.o.) Man of the Match: Paras Khadka.
Hong Kong bt USA by 77 runs. Hong Kong 177 for 4 in 20 overs (James Atkinson 63, Babar Hayat 35 n.o., Nizakat Khan 32; Orlando Baker 2 for 24) USA 100 in 16.2 overs (Steven Taylor 26; Aizaz Khan 5 for 25, Nizakat Khan 3 for 11) Man of the Match: Aizaz Khan.
Bermuda bt Uganda by 41 runs. Bermuda 179 for 4 in 20 overs (Janeiro Tucker 67 n.o., Fiqre Crockwell 47, Lionel Cann 42; Jonathn Sebanja 2 for 31) Uganda 138 for 5 in 20 overs (Arthur Kyobe 37, Jonathan Sebanja 34 n.o.) Man of the Match: Janeiro Tucker.
By K.R. Nayar?Chief Cricket Writer
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
