Stirling finds form for Ireland

After three defeats in as many games ended their hopes of reaching the Super Six of the Cricket World Cup qualifiers, Ireland earned their first win with a brilliant batting display against the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Paul Stirling was the standout performer, making 162 from just 134 deliveries, smashing 15 fours and eight sixes to set up a mammoth 349 for four from 50 overs.

He put on 184 with skipper Andy Balbirnie, who made a comparatively sedate 66 from 88 balls before he was caught behind off Ali Naseer to leave Ireland on 225 for two in the 39th over.

That brought Harry Tector to the crease and the run-rate ramped up as he and Stirling put on 57 in just 6.4 overs.

Sanchit Sharma (3-46), the pick of the UAE bowlers, finally removed Stirling with five overs remaining, but Tector started teeing off, eventually falling for a 33-ball 57 in the penultimate over.

The Netherlands showed on Monday that big chases are very possible in Zimbabwe, and Muhammad Waseem looked to give the UAE the perfect start with a quickfire 45 from just 32 balls.

An opening partnership of 58 was broken when Waseem was run out, straying out of his crease after wearing one on the gloves, with Balbirnie showing quick thinking to get him.

Aryansh Sharma (18) and Vriitya Aravind (10) then followed before Ethan D’Souza (3) became a second victim for Josh Little (2-30) to leave the UAE on 85 for four.

Basil Hameed hit three sixes on his way to a counter-attacking 39, adding 70 with Sanchit for the seventh wicket to get UAE to 179 for seven.

He was caught off the bowling of George Dockrell, while Curtis Campher ended Sanchit’s resistance on 44, trapping Junaid Siddique leg before in the same over.

It was left to Dockrell to complete the job, having Karthik Meiyappan caught for six as the UAE were bowled out for 211 with 11 overs still to bowl.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Muhammad Waseem(c), Aryansh Sharma(w), Vriitya Aravind, Ethan DSouza, Basil Hameed, Ali Naseer, Aayan Afzal Khan, Sanchit Sharma, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah

IRELAND:Paul Stirling, Andy McBrine, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(w), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little