Ponting and Sehwag set the benchmark for Stirling show

Dubai: Paul Stirling, who stole the limelight on the final day of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers by steering Ireland to the showpiece event, idolises Australia's Ricky Ponting and India's Virender Sehwag.

In the morning match against Namibia on Saturday, Stirling cracked an unbeaten 59 off just 32 balls with nine fours and a six to ensure an emphatic nine-wicket win for his team.

In the final against Afghanistan in the evening, he made all the difference hitting the second-fastest half-century in the history of Twenty20 cricket off just 17 balls. Only India's Yuvraj Singh has gone quicker, hitting a 50 off 12 balls against England in 2007.

"I grew up watching Ricky Ponting. He is one of my idols and I watch Sehwag bat these days as well. So these two are not bad names to have as idols. I may not get to see Ponting in the Twenty20 World Cup but I am happy that I will be able to see Sehwag," Stirling said.

Positive thinking

Talking about his knock of 79, which came off 38 balls with nine boundaries and three sixes and stunned Afghanistan, Stirling said: "I came out to bat positively. Under the lights the ball came on to the bat very well. So a combination of factors made the total of 150 on par."

Asked whether he fancied launching an assault on the Afghanistan bowling, he replied: "I won't say that because they have some very good bowlers. They had one of the finest seam attacks in the tournament. The ball was coming on nicely and there wasn't much seam movement," he said.

"I think the wicket suited me. This is the first time we played here under lights and that made a massive difference as the ball slides on to the bat."

Asked whether he had planned to play such a knock, Stirling said: "I just go and back myself, which I feel is the most important thing. You should also know that everyone in the team is backing you and you can play freely."