Player of the Match
Player of the Match
1952dThe Report by Gerard Siggins in Dubai

Ireland demolish Namibia to qualify for World T20

Ireland muscled their way past Namibia to take the last remaining place in the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, showing the all-round game that has made them the leading Associate side for the past five years

Match Centre

That is it from us for this game then. Cheers

Sorensen is Man of the Match for his spell of 4-2-8-2. Sorensen: "We stuck to our game plan, bowled with great intensity, batters came out and did the job. I came with a mindset that it was going to be tough, tried to hit my areas, was under a bit of cosh against Canada, skipper was clear what he wanted to do, I did just that. The pitch had a lot more pace today compared to the one we played on yesterday but it was very flat."

William Porterfield: "We have been clinical last couple of games. It was nipping around there a bit [on the decision not to use left-arm spinner Dockrell]. Makes it a lot easier when Stirling is striking it at over 200. We had to come through the hard way through the group stage, stepped up during the big stages, thanks to all our supporters."

Sarel Burger: "They bowled outstandingly, and played well throughout. We lost a couple of early wickets and could not recover. This tournament was a great experience and gave the guys an opportunity to do well."

Stirling and Joyce embrace in the middle, Ireland are through to the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September. Ireland are a quietly satisfied lot, like a side who have only done what they expected they would do comfortably. They had lost by four runs to Namibia in the group stage, but when the big game came, they just blew their opponents away. Ireland will now meet Afghanistan in the final later this evening at 6 pm local time.

Shearo: "Great to see the lads so convincingly qualify for the World T20... Bring it on!"

Riaz: "Let's enjoy the bowling of Afghanistan vs batting of Ireland tonight!"

Dinesh: "Two good upcoming teams qualify for the World T20 event. I've great respect for both these teams. Looking forward for World T20 this September."

10.1
4
Opperman to Stirling, FOUR, Stirling ends it in style, goes down to reverse sweep a full delivery between backward point and short third man, immediately punches the air, raises his bat towards the dressing room

END OF OVER:
10 | 3 Runs | IRE: 92/1 (3 runs required from 60 balls, RR: 9.20, RRR: 0.30)

  • Ed Joyce12 (13b)
  • Paul Stirling55 (31b)
  • Louis van der Westhuizen2-0-17-0
  • Sarel Burger2-0-10-0
9.6
0
van der Westhuizen to Joyce, no run, pushed in the air to the bowler off the back foot
9.5
1
van der Westhuizen to Stirling, 1 run, nudges a flighted one behind square leg
9.4
1
van der Westhuizen to Joyce, 1 run, whips a full delivery down to long on
9.3
0
van der Westhuizen to Joyce, no run, steps out and pushes to cover again
9.2
0
van der Westhuizen to Joyce, no run, slaps a full ball to cover from the crease