Ireland, Netherlands brighten their chances for second slot

Dubai: Ireland and the Netherlands are on course for the second slot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

In the morning matches of the qualifiers yesterday, Ireland thrashed Canada by ten wickets at Dubai International Cricket stadium, while the Netherlands scored an exciting three-wicket win over Scotland with five balls to spare at the ICC Global Cricket Academy ground.

The two teams will now clash today for the right to play Namibia, who were beaten by Afghanistan yesterday. Whichever team wins that match will take the second spot for the showpiece World Cup in September.

It was a spectacular show from Ireland right from the start. Trent Johnston, who will turn 38 next month, defied his age to bowl a fine opening spell. He gave away just nine runs from his four overs and took two wickets. It was a delight to watch him move the ball and strike repeatedly and he was rightly adjudged man of the match.

Johnston got good support from medium pacer Max Sorensen and 19-year-old left arm spinner George Dockrell, who took three wickets each and restricted Canada to just 106 for eight.

Ireland raced to victory in just 9.3 overs, with Paul Stirling at his aggressive best. He played some spectacular shots, especially three well-timed sixes and nine boundaries, to remain unbeaten on 61 off 32 balls.

Stirling reached his half-century in just 21 balls, while skipper William Porterfield played the supporting role with an unconquered 42 off 25 balls with eight boundaries.

Netherlands also had a good win. Despite Scotland posting an impressive total of 166 for six at a run rate of 8.30 runs per over, they reached the target safely.

Rousing start

Scotland won the toss and were given a rousing start by openers Richie Berrington (37) and Calum MacLeod (57), who put on 59 in just 6.3 overs. Preston Mommsen late chipped in with 26.

Berrington sparkled with the ball too and dismissed in-form opener Michael Swart for 12, while Majid Haq bowled brilliantly to take three wickets for 22 runs.

But Tom Cooper took up the challenge and went for his shots. He hit 60 off just 32 balls with four sixes and four boundaries to ensure a stunning victory.

Speaking after receiving the man of the match award, Cooper said: "We were confident of chasing the total. We did well to pull things back while bowling. I knew that if one of us stayed till the end then we could chase it down."

In the 11th place play-off at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Hong Kong beat Uganda by five wickets with four balls to spare. The architect of their victory was opener Irfan Ahmad, who took three for 32 to restrict Uganda to 130 for eight and then hit 55 off just 51 balls with three boundaries and two sixes.

In the 15th place play-off at the ICC Global Cricket Academy ground, Oman registered their first victory of the tournament, beating Denmark by 17 runs. Their openers Zeeshan Seddiqi (67) and Jatinder Singh (56) put on 113 to set the stage for victory.

Brief scores

Ireland bt Canada by 10 wkts: Canada 106 for 8 in 20 overs (Ruvindu Gunasekera 26; Trent Johnston 2 for 9, George Dockrell 3 for 19, Max Sorensen 3 for 20). Ireland 109 for no loss in 9.3 overs (Paul Stirling 61no, William Porterfield 42no). Man of the Match: Trent Johnston.

Netherlands bt Scotland by three wkts: Scotland 166-6 in 20 overs (Callum MacLeod 57, Richie Berrington 37; Mudassar Bukhari 2 for 30, Pieter Seelaar 2 for 25, Peter Borren 2 for 32) Netherlands 169 for 7 in 19.1 overs (Stephan Myburgh 36, Tom Cooper 60; Gordon Drummond 2 for 35, Majid Haq 3 for 22, Richie Berrington 2 for 13). Man of the Match: Tom Cooper (Netherlands).

11th place play-off - Hong Kong bt Uganda by five wkts: Uganda 130 for 8 in 20 overs (Roger Mukasa 30, Arthur Kyobe 32, Irfan Ahmad 3 for 32) Hong Kong 134 for 5 in 19.2 overs (Irfan Ahmad 55no, Waqas Barkat 31, Jamie Atkinson 30, Deusdedit Muhumuza 2 for 27, Brian Masaba 2 for 8). Man of the match: Irfan Ahmad.

15th place play-off - Oman bt Denmark by 17 runs. Oman 155 for 5 in 20 overs (Zeeshan Seddiqi 67, Jatinder Singh 56; Martin Pedersen 2 for 23) Denmark 138 for 6 in 20 overs (Aftab Ahmad 36, Freddie Klokker 40, Martin Pedersen 30; Hemal Mehta 3 for 29). Man of the Match: Zeeshan Seddiqi.