Gary Wilson and Kevin O’Brien struck brisk half-centuries as Ireland held their nerve to clinch a thrilling two-wicket victory in their World Cup Pool B match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Brisbane yesterday.
Wilson hit 80 off 69 deliveries, while all-rounder O’Brien smashed 50 off 25 to help Ireland overwhelm UAE’s total of 278-9 with four deliveries to spare for their second consecutive win of the tournament.
Needing almost 10 runs an over at one stage, Wilson and O’Brien smashed 72 in their sixth-wicket stand off just six overs to revive their chase.
Photo: EPA
O’Brien, who was dropped on 24, hit eight fours and lofted Amjad Javed (3-60) for two sixes in one over, but fell in the same over with his team still needing 36 runs.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Wilson got Ireland, who beat the West Indies in their first match, closer, but was dismissed by Mohammad Naveed (2-65) after hitting the bowler for two boundaries in the 48th over.
Ireland needed 12 at that stage and tail-enders George Dockrell and Alex Cusack held firm to see them through.
Earlier, Shaiman Anwar registered UAE’s first World Cup century to help them overcome a poor start and post a strong total.
The 35-year-old right-hander scored 106 off 83 deliveries and dominated a breezy 107-run stand with Javed (42), a World Cup record for the seventh wicket, to lift UAE who were reeling at 78-4 in the 21st over.
Anwar became the second batsman to score an ODI hundred for the Emirati nation, who are making their second appearance at the event after also qualifying in 1996.
Anwar, who hit 10 fours and a six, raised his bat and went down on his knees after reaching the 100-run mark in 79 deliveries.
Ireland were guilty of bowling too short to Anwar — who had scored his previous highest of 67 in their previous match against Zimbabwe — and Javed, as UAE plundered 147 runs in the last 15 overs.
The duo came together with Ireland looking to bundle their opponents out having reduced them to 131-6 in the 35th over.
Anwar eventually fell in the 49th over, skying Max Sorensen for Wilson to complete a comfortable catch.
Off-spinner Paul Stirling (2-27) struck in his second over to dismiss Andri Berenger (13) and then picked up Krishna Chandran for a duck in his third to deny UAE a strong start after they were put in to bat.
O’Brien came into the attack for Ireland and dismissed set opener Amjad Ali (45) and Swapnil Patil (2) in his first two overs to further stifle the UAE innings.
However, O’Brien proved expensive in the final overs, eventually conceding 61 off seven overs.
Ireland now have two wins in two, while the UAE have lost both their opening pool matches.
“Wickets in hand are always a big thing, especially when you’ve got lads like Kev and Wilson coming in,” Ireland captain William Porterfield, said. “One key factor was the way we played in the last 20 overs of our innings.”
“It was a bit closer than we would have wanted, but we’d take that any day of the week,” he added.
Ireland are third in Pool B and well-placed for a quarter-final spot, although they still have to face South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and defending champions India.
Additional reporting by AFP
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