Ireland cruise past the UAE to book place in final

Abu Dhabi: Ireland cruised into the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup cricket championship with a massive innings and 170-run win over hosts UAE here yesterday.

The defending champions, wrapped up victory in less than three days in the four-day final Group A match and finished on top with 43 points. The 20 points they gathered from this outright win at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium put them ahead of leaders Scotland and the Irish will now take on Canada in a rematch of the previous final.

Quick blows

The Irish needed one wicket to wrap up the first innings and Trent Johnson got rid of Ahmad Raza, the hosts were asked to follow on. The UAE batsmen, who are used to playing only one-day matches ranging from 25 to 50 overs throughout the season, were found wanting once again as Johnson struck three quick blows.

He first dismissed UAE skipper Arshad Ali, who scored 75 in the first innings, leg before for seven and in his next over accounted for the other batsman who resisted in the first innings.

Naeemuddin Aslam, who remained unbeaten on 38 and gained promotion as an opener, fell for just two runs and two balls later UAE were 12 for 3 when Johnston had Gayan Silva caught behind for one.

Wickets fell at regular intervals after that as Boyd Rankin finished what Johnston had started.

Only Khurram Khan battled for a 110-ball innings of 42 as Rankin finished with four for 56 while Johnston ended with six for the match.

The UAE finished with no points in the four-team group which also consisted of Ireland, Scotland and Namibia.