World Cup Report Match 16: Ireland v United Arab Emirates

Scorecard

In what was arguably the most entertaining match of the World Cup so far, the Luck of the Irish shone in the favourites direction at the right moments and allowed Ireland to sneak away with a victory that was vital for their future chances. It was also a heartbreaking loss for the U.A.E who fought magnificently throughout the match.

Ireland's captain was almost left to rue his decision to send the U.A.E in to bat upon winning the toss - again, a very strange decision given the conditions. However, Ireland bowled well, surprisingly best served by off spinner Paul Stirling, who bowled 10 overs straight for his 2/27. U.A.E had lost 6/131 after 35 overs, and for all intents and purposes, 200 looked a long way off. Early on, opening batsman Amjad Ali had impressed with some good stroke play, before being bogged down later in his innings. he had 29 runs off 31 deliveries, before only adding a further 16 runs off his next 40 deliveries. Still, he had looked good in execution.

When the innings could have spluttered for U.A.E, it instead blossomed. The very impressive Shaiman Anwar was partnered by the determined Amjad Javed, and together put on 107 for the seventh wicket - what turned out to be the highest 7th wicket partnership in World Cup history! - from just 71 deliveries. Javed made an excellent 42, but it was the innings on Anwar that was the gem. He played shots all around the ground, worked the strike when he needed to, wasn't afraid to wait for the right ball, moved around his crease before balls were delivered, and generally worried the Irish bowlers into changing the way they had been bowling, thus opening up the floodgates. He brought up his century in the 48th over, in which the U.A.E pair took 19 runs off, and it was fantastic to watch. It was just as fascinating to watch as Gayle's had been the previous day. As a result of this, the U.A.E scored 147 runs from the final 15 overs, and reached 9/278 off their 50 overs. And, no doubt the Irish were suddenly shaking in their boots.

Ireland's innings was travelling a similar path to the U.A.E by the halfway mark. Starts from Porterfield and Joyce had not been followed up. Joyce had indeed received an incredible piece of luck, when during his innings a ball clipped his off-stump. dislodging the zinger bails which duly lit up, before falling back into place and extinguishing their light, and Joyce remained at the crease. Unbelievable. He wasn't so fortunately soon after, edging to the keeper for 37.

A solid recovery from Balbirnie and Gary Wilson saw Ireland moving in the right direction, but they were still a long way behind the eight ball. Balbirnie's dismissal came at the right time for Ireland, as it allowed the entrance of giant killer Kevin O'Brien to enter, requiring 108 runs off 68 balls. He and Wilson combined well, and had brought the asking rate down to 72 runs off 48 balls, when the turning point of the match came.

42.1

Amjad Javed to KJ O'Brien, FOUR, dropped! slower ball on middle stump, and Kev goes for the big heave down the ground and skies it high in the air. Nasir Aziz, the substitute fielder, moves to his left at long-on and was pretty much under it, a few feet in front of the boundary. Got into a poor position to catch it, leaning backwards with his hands in the air, and ended up palming it towards the boundary.

Along with this four, 36 runs were taken from 14 deliveries, and when O'Brien was dismissed the game was in a much more winnable position with 36 required from 32 balls. 13 runs then came from the next over, meaning Ireland required 23 from 24 balls, and surely the game was as good as over.

But the U.A.E didn't think so. Two wickets in four balls, including the solid Wilson, who had made an invaluable 80, left 12 required from 15 balls, but now only two wickets in hand. It was tense, fighting cricket from both teams, and wonderful to watch. A few swipes, a little fortunate, meant Ireland got the winning runs with four balls to spare, but they had almost all the luck go their way. The Ed Joyce non-bowling. A vital dropped catch to a substitute who had literally just walked out of the dressing room. The hamstring injury to the U.A.E's best bowler Guruge who couldn't complete his ten overs. An "Umpires Call" LBW decision against Wilson late in the innings that would have saved two boundaries had it been given. It all added up to fall in their favour. The Emirates bowling was... almost... good enough at the death. They just missed their marks by a smidgen, allowing the batsman to get under the deliveries and away to the boundary. At least, unlike so many teams in this tournament, they had a plan to bowl full and straight in those death overs. It was a pleasant change, even if it didn't quite pay off.

Ireland now have 2 wins from 2 games, and now play South Africa next Tuesday in what will be a real eye opener for them in their chase for a finals position. The U.A.E, who have lost two games now by hair's breath, play India on Saturday at the W.A.C.A, which will be eye opening for a whole different reason.