ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers: Ireland V Canada – Match Update
William Porterfield and Paul Stirling shared an unbeaten 109-run opening stand to guide Ireland to a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Canada in the first Preliminary final of the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, played at the Dubai International Cricket
Stadium, today, March 22, 2012.
A meagre total of 106 for 8 amassed by the Canadian batsmen in their allotted quota of 20 overs was comfortably chased down by the Irish skipper William Porterfield and his opening partner Paul Stirling inside ten overs. Stirling scored a whirlwind half
century while Porterfield returned unbeaten at 42 off just 25 balls.
Earlier, the Canadian captain, Rizwan Cheema, won the toss and opted to bat first on the batting friendly DICS wicket but failed to get support from his batsmen as wickets kept clattering at regular intervals. Opener Hiral Patel was the first casualty the
Canadians suffered on the fifth ball of the match. Patel, who scored a third-ball duck, was caught by Stirling off Trent Johnston’s bowling to leave the side 1 for 1 on the board.
Nitish Kumar and Ruvindu Gunasekera buckled down to add 37 runs for the second wicket stand to restore some normalcy. Johnston struck back in the seventh over to remove Kumar having him caught by Gary Wilson behind the stumps. Kumar scored 17 runs off 15
balls, including three boundaries. Hansra was the next man to depart after being bowled out by George Dockrell.
The slow left-arm Orthodox bowler struck back in his next over to remove well settled opener Ruvindu Gunasekera. He was also caught by Stirling at 26. During his 33-ball knock, the opener also struck two fours. Gunasekera was soon followed back by skipper
Rizwan Cheema to leave the side 55 for 5 on the board. Cheema tested 11 balls to score five runs.
With the wickets clattering at the other end, lower order batsman Tyson Gordon kept the scoreboard ticking to help the side set a three-digit target for Ireland. He scored 23 runs off 26 balls.
Dockrell and Sorensen shared three wickets apiece while Johnston returned with figures of 2 for 9 in his quota of four overs, including a maiden over as well.
Ireland will next play the loser of Namibia- Afghanistan match at the same Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday March 24, 2012.