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United Arab Emirates vs Ireland Live Cricket Score, Match 9, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier, 2019, October 19, 2019

IRE 125/10 (20)
United Arab Emirates beat Ireland by 5 wickets
UAE 129/5 (17)
Match over
Commentary :
0.0 : Welcome to Match 9 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier between the United Arab Emirates and Ireland. Ireland will be up and about coming into this match as they were hardly troubled by Hong Kong and cruised to a victory. They will be looking to pile the pressure on the hosts who lost their first game against Oman after a very under par performance with not even a single department clicking for them. They will be looking to remedy that and at least challenge the Irish side. Stay tuned for
Toss - UAE win the toss and choose to bowl first.
Ireland Playing XI - Kevin O'Brien, Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, David Delany, Gary Wilson (C/WK), Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate (in for Stuart Thompson), Mark Adair, Boyd Rankin, Harry Tector.
UAE Playing XI - Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Darius D'Silva (in for Chirag Suri), Muhammad Usman, Rameez Shahzad, Waheed Ahmed, Mohammad Boota (WK) (in for Ghulam Shabber), Ahmed Raza (C), Sultan Ahmed, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan.
UAE skipper, Ahmed Raza, says there was a bit of dew last evening and hence they want to bowl first. Feels that they need to trust their training and instincts and go with them. About the wicket, he says that it was a bit slow in the last match but the surface looks better today. Informs about the changes - Mohammad Boota comes in for Ghulam Shabber and Darius D'Silva comes in for Chirag Suri.
Ireland skipper, Gary Wilson, says they anyway wanted to bat, put some runs on the board and put the opposition under pressure. States they can improve a little with the ball. Tells that Rankin was excellent in the last match and he hopes they can do something similar today. Informs there is one change - Shane Getkate comes in for Stuart Thompson.
PITCH REPORT - Dirk Nannes says it is hard to score boundaries here. Ed Rainsford then informs it looks flat and it seems a belter. Mentions the average score during the night time is 155. Further adds the shorter side is the one in front and that is where the batters should aim. Ends by saying 180 should be a good total.
We are all set for the action to begin! Out come the Irish openers, Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien. Stirling will take strike and he will be facing Sultan Ahmed. Here we go...
0.1 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, Starts with a flatter delivery just outside the off pole line, Paul Stirling pushes it back to the bowler.
0.2 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, Another diamond duck was on the cards for Kevin O'Brien but he survives. Stirling pushes this flatter delivery down the ground. The bowler dives to his right and gets a hand to it. The ball rolls towards mid on and Stirling is off for a run. O'Brien is slow off the blocks and almost collides with Stirling on his way to the other end but gets in safely. One run taken and Ireland are underway.
0.3 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien defends this one off the front foot.
0.4 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, O'Brien looks to paddle this one towards fine leg but misses and is hit on the pads.
0.5 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, O'Brien punches this one off the back foot towards the off side.
0.6 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, FOUR! Just a nonchalant flick off his pads and O'Brien gets a boundary towards square leg.
Ahmed Raza to bowl from the other end. So two left-arm spinners to begin with.
Stat alert - The pair of Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien has been in crackling form while opening the innings for Ireland. The duo has 4 fifty-plus stands to their name. Kevin bagged a diamond duck last evening and would be eager to set the record straight.
1.1 : A Raza to P Stirling, FOUR! Smashed down the ground! This would have been a maximum on most grounds but just a four here. Full and floated on middle and off, Stirling smashes this one over mid on and it goes on the bounce for a boundary.
1.2 : A Raza to P Stirling, Stirling pushes this one towards mid off for a single.
1.3 : A Raza to K O'Brien, Good bowling! Raza gives this one a lot of air outside off, O'Brien looks to loft it over the cover region but is beaten by the away spin.
1.4 : A Raza to K O'Brien, O'Brien drives this one towards the cover region and takes a quick single.
1.5 : A Raza to P Stirling, Floated on off, Paul pushes this one towards the man at cover.
1.6 : A Raza to P Stirling, Excellent fielding by Sultan! Full and floated outside off, Stirling drives this one powerfully towards the cover region. The fielder there inside the circle, dives to his right superbly and saves a certain boundary.
2.1 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, In the air... but it lands safe! Once again, Kevin O'Brien whips it with the angle, he takes the aerial route over mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and the batters take two.
2.2 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, Flatter and on the stumps, Kevin O'Brien keeps it out.
2.3 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, FOUR! Slapped! Kevin O'Brien once again makes room. Sultan fires it on the stumps but bowls it short. Kevin has enough time to slap it through covers for a boundary.
2.4 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, Better! A touch fuller and on middle, this is hit back to the bowler.
2.5 : S Ahmed to K O'Brien, Good fielding! Saves a run for his side. Kevin makes room again, the batter follows the batter. Kevin hits it past short fine leg fielder. The fielder in the deep makes a lot of ground to his right. Nobody expected him to stop the ball, not even the batters as they are literally jogging to complete the run. The fielder does manage to push it back before it crosses the ropes. Realizing that, the batters rush for the third. Complete it in the end.
2.6 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, A dot to end an expensive over by Ahemd. This is on off, it is pushed to covers.
Junaid Siddique is into the attack now. Just the one over for Sultan.
3.1 : J Siddique to K O'Brien, OUT! CAUGHT! Brilliant catch by Ashfaq Ahmed! He is a big unit but he has done very well to pull that off! Siddique bowls this one fuller and just outside off, O'Brien shuffles across a bit and looks to flick this towards mid-wicket but does so uppishly. Ashfaq there runs and dives low down to his right and takes a very good catch. The bowling change works wonders for the hosts. An early wicket for UAE and just what the doctor ordered.
0.0 : Andy Balbirnie is the new man in. He has been in excellent form lately and another good innings here is what Ireland would like. The current pair featured in an 86-run stand in the last match. A slip in place for the new batsman.
3.2 : J Siddique to A Balbirnie, Balbirnie off the mark straightaway! A gift for him, way outside off, he cuts it towards backward point and takes a couple.
3.3 : J Siddique to A Balbirnie, On the hips of Balbirnie, he works it towards square leg and takes a single.
Slip comes out as Paul Stirling is on strike.
3.4 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Length ball outside off, Paul Stirling opens the face of his bat and guides it to third man.
3.5 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Loud appeal but nothing from the umpire! Jaffa by Siddique, he bowls this on a length just outside off. Stirling looks to fend at it but fails to do so. The ball moves after crossing the blade and the UAE players appeal. The umpire says no and the bowler is almost in disbelief.
3.6 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Stirling flicks this one towards the mid-wicket fielder. End of a very good over for UAE.
4.1 : S Ahmed to A Balbirnie, Shortish ball on off, Balbirnie pushes this one towards long off and takes a single.
4.2 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, FOUR! Shortish in length again and this time Stirling heaves this one towards the mid-wicket region for a boundary. Off the inside half of his blade but still enough meat on the shot. Brute power!
4.3 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, On the pads of Stirling, he flicks this one towards square leg and takes a couple.
4.4 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, FOUR! This time smashed towards the off side. Short and wide outside off, Stirling makes a little bit of room and slaps this through the cover region for a boundary.
4.5 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, Punched off the back foot by Stirling towards long off. The batters take a single.
4.6 : S Ahmed to A Balbirnie, On middle and off, Balbirnie gets down on one knee and sweeps this one straight to the man at square leg.
5.1 : J Siddique to P Stirling, On the middle pole, Stirling plays it towards point. He thinks of a run but is sent back in time.
5.2 : J Siddique to P Stirling, A wild heave there! This is on off, Stirling looks to go big but it goes off the inner half through square leg for one.
5.3 : J Siddique to A Balbirnie, Crunched only for a single! Slightly shorter and outside off, the batter cuts it hard but towards cover-point where the fielder makes a half stop and a run is taken.
5.4 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Good fielding again! A low full toss on off, Stirling strokes it towards cover where the fielder dives to his right and stops it. Can't stop the single though.
5.5 : J Siddique to A Balbirnie, Good change in length there! Bangs this one short on middle, Balbirnie is surprised by that one, he ducks under it.
5.6 : J Siddique to A Balbirnie, Three to end the Powerplay! Honors even after the first 6. Ireland are 41 for 1. A short one on middle, this one stays a touch low. Andy looks to pull it but gets an inside edge. The keeper dives to his left and gets a hand to it. Saves a run for his side as that took the pace off the ball and the fielder from short fine leg does the mopping up job.
Ahmed Raza is back! Just the one over he bowled in the Powerplay and he has brought himself back on now.
6.1 : A Raza to A Balbirnie, Short and wide outside off, Andy cuts it towards the man at backward point.
6.2 : A Raza to A Balbirnie, First signs of spin on this surface. Raza gives this a bit of air outside off, Balbirnie stays leg side of this delivery and looks to push this one towards the off side. The ball spins away from him and he is beaten all ends up. The keeper is quick to whip the bails off and appeal but the leg umpire says Andy is inside the crease.
6.3 : A Raza to A Balbirnie, On the pads of Balbirnie, he flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single.
6.4 : A Raza to P Stirling, Stirling rocks onto the back foot and push-drives this one towards cover-point. Two runs taken.
6.5 : A Raza to P Stirling, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
6.6 : A Raza to P Stirling, Stirling gets to the pitch of the ball and pushes this one down the ground for a single at long off.
Rohan Mustafa is on now. Time for an off spinner now.
7.1 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, Ohh! Close call! Down the leg side, Stirling looks to sweep this one down the leg side but he gets just the bottom edge on it.
7.2 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, Stirling pushes this one towards long off and takes a single.
7.3 : R Mustafa to A Balbirnie, Balbirnie pushes this one towards cover off the back foot and takes a single.
7.4 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, On the pads, Stirling flicks it to the man at mid-wicket.
7.5 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, Full and floated on the pads, pushed towards mid on for a single.
7.6 : R Mustafa to A Balbirnie, On the pads of Andy, he flicks it towards square leg for a single.
8.1 : A Raza to A Balbirnie, OUT! Taken! Another good catch! Also, this is a big wicket as Balbirnie has been the man in form for the Irish. Does not make a lot of runs here. The frustration of not being able to score freely gets to him. He makes room and looks to go over covers. He does not get the desired elevation. Rohan Mustafa times his jump to perfection at the edge of the circle and takes a decent catch. Does the Shikhar Dhawan celebration after that. Ireland in a spot of bother here.
0.0 : Harry Tector is the next man in for the Irish.
8.2 : A Raza to H Tector, Loopy ball on middle, this is eased down to long on for a single.
8.3 : A Raza to P Stirling, On middle, it is kept out.
8.4 : A Raza to P Stirling, Stirling comes down the track and works it through square leg for one.
8.5 : A Raza to H Tector, That is unplayable! This lands on middle and then turns square. The batsman looks to defend the original trajectory but gets beaten. However, his second line of defense ends up saving him there as the ball goes past the outside edge and then hits the back pad. Had it not done that, it would have clipped the off pole. The bowler does appeal for an LBW but the umpire shakes his head. That was mighty close.
8.6 : A Raza to H Tector, Tector now tries to play the sweep shot but is a touch early in the shot. It goes off the bottom edge on the off side. End of a top over by the skipper.
9.1 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, Floats this one on middle and leg, Paul pushes it towards mid-wicket and takes a single.
9.2 : R Mustafa to H Tector, Shortish and wide outside off, Harry cuts it towards the man at backward point.
9.3 : R Mustafa to H Tector, On middle and leg, Tector looks to flick this one towards the leg side but the ball goes off the leading edge towards mid on for a single.
9.4 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, Stirling pushes this one towards mid on, off the back foot for one.
9.5 : R Mustafa to H Tector, OUT! TIMBER! Tector was nowhere near his sector! Tector looks to come down the track, Mustafa spots it and bowls a flatter one. It goes straight beneath the bat of Harry Tector as he looks to dig it out and into the off pole. He will be disappointed with the manner of his dismissal. The Irish have been struggling so far in this match against spin bowling and it is highlighted further by this wicket.
Gary Wilson, the skipper, is the next man in.
9.6 : R Mustafa to G Wilson, Wilson pushes this one towards long on and takes a single to get off the mark straightaway.
10.1 : A Raza to G Wilson, Wilson makes room straight away. Raza slows it up and lands it on middle, Wilson looks to work it on the leg side but closes the face of the bat and a soft leading edge is induced towards cover.
10.2 : A Raza to G Wilson, Comes down the track and looks to go inside out. The ball turns away a little and the batter ends up slicing it towards sweeper cover for one.
10.3 : A Raza to P Stirling, Stirling comes down the track and works it through mid-wicket for one.
10.4 : A Raza to G Wilson, This is eased down to long on for a run.
10.5 : A Raza to P Stirling, Shorter and on middle, this is pushed down to long off for one.
10.6 : A Raza to G Wilson, Another single to end! This is pushed down to long on for a single.
11.1 : R Mustafa to G Wilson, Wilson looks to be innovative, he tries to reverse sweep but misses. The ball hits the pads and rolls towards short fine leg for one.
11.2 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, FOUR! Welcome, welcome boundary this! He is known for his power but here he shows finesse. Uses the pace of the bowler. This is fired full and outside off, Stirling opens the face of the bat and guides it past point for a boundary.
11.3 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, Full toss on the off pole, Stirling drives this one towards deep cover and takes a couple.
11.4 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, Outside off, Stirling shuffles and looks to flick it towards the leg side but misses and is hit on the pads.
11.5 : R Mustafa to P Stirling, This time Stirling gets it right and flicks the ball towards mid-wicket for a single.
11.6 : R Mustafa to G Wilson, OUT! CAUGHT! The skipper departs! He took the responsibility of scoring the boundaries upon himself but he fails in doing so. Floated outside off, Wilson looks to get down on one knee and slog sweep it over the deep mid-wicket fielder. He connects well but not well enough. Finds Darius D'Silva there almost to perfection who takes a simple catch. Ireland struggling to get going.
Mark Adair walks out at no. 6. Also, Sultan Ahmed is back on. He has one over left.
12.1 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, This is flatter and on middle, Stirling pushes it back to the bowler.
12.2 : S Ahmed to P Stirling, Another flatter ball, this is pushed down to long on for one.
12.3 : S Ahmed to M Adair, Adair straightaway comes down the track and looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads.
12.4 : S Ahmed to M Adair, Flatter outside off, this is guided to point.
12.5 : S Ahmed to M Adair, Uses his feet but does not get to the pitch of the ball. It is played back to the bowler.
12.6 : S Ahmed to M Adair, FOUR! Releases a little pressure this one! A poor ball to end his spell. Also, this one spoils what was a top over till then. Short and on middle, it sits up to be hit. Adair whips it in the gap in the mid-wicket region and bags a boundary. End of Sultan for tonight. His figures read 4-0-31-0.
Waheed Ahmed is introduced into the attack now.
13.1 : W Ahmed to P Stirling, Good fielding by UAE! They have improved from their last match. Length ball on middle and off, Paul opens the face of his bat and guides it fine wide of third man. The fielder there though runs, dives full stretch to his left and saves at least a couple of runs for his side.
13.2 : W Ahmed to M Adair, Adair punches this one off the back foot towards point.
13.3 : W Ahmed to M Adair, Outside off, Adair pushes this one towards the cover region and takes a single.
13.4 : W Ahmed to P Stirling, FOUR! Brilliant use of the wrists! Short and wide outside off by Waheed, Stirling makes beautiful use of his wrists to find the gap at backward point for a boundary.
13.5 : W Ahmed to P Stirling, Stirling pushes this one towards long off for a couple.
13.6 : W Ahmed to P Stirling, Paul plays this one straight towards the cover fielder.
Zahoor Khan is on now.
14.1 : Z Khan to M Adair, On the hips of Adair, he flicks it towards mid-wicket and takes a single.
14.2 : Z Khan to P Stirling, Short of a length on middle and off, Stirling pulls this one with his eyes off the ball towards square leg for a single.
14.3 : Z Khan to M Adair, Wide! Down the leg side, Adair looks to flick it but misses. The ball goes through to the keeper and a wide is signalled.
Z Khan to M Adair, Shortish delivery on middle, Adair pulls this one towards square leg for one.
14.4 : Z Khan to P Stirling, On the pads, Stirling works this one towards short fine leg for a single.
14.5 : Z Khan to M Adair, Fullish outside off, Adair pushes this one to cover for a run.
14.6 : Z Khan to P Stirling, Length ball on off, Stirling pushes this one towards the man at cover. He has a shy at the striker's end and hits however the batter never left the crease. Ireland are 87/4 with 5 overs left.
Junaid Siddique is back! He has a wicket to his name in the two overs bowled by him.
15.1 : J Siddique to M Adair, Fuller one on the pads, Adair flicks this one in front of square leg for a single.
15.2 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Good bowling by Siddique! Bowls a slower yorker on middle and leg, Stirling does well to dig it out. He was looking to go big at that one but the variation in length and pace stops him.
15.3 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Length ball on middle, Stirling pushes this one towards long on. The batters want two and they have done well to complete it.
15.4 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Short of a length ball outside off, Paul Stirling pulls this one towards square leg for one.
15.5 : J Siddique to M Adair, Full ball outside off, Adair pushes this one towards cover for one.
The umpire just has a look at the ball. Not sure what he checked...
15.6 : J Siddique to P Stirling, A well-compiled and hard earned half ton for Paul Stirling! Siddique bowls this one fuller and on off, Paul pushes this down the ground towards long off to get to his fifty, 15th in this format.
16.1 : Z Khan to P Stirling, FOUR! An invitation to hit and Stirling gladly accepts it. Shortish delivery outside off, Stirling pulls this one all along the ground towards mid-wicket for a boundary.
16.2 : Z Khan to P Stirling, Full ball just outside off, Stirling looks to put bat on ball on it but the ball whizzes past the outside edge.
16.3 : Z Khan to P Stirling, FOUR! Clever batting from Paul Stirling. He was expecting another delivery similar to the last one and he proves to be right. Full and wide outside off, Stirling cuts it between the backward point and third man fielder for a boundary. 100 up for Ireland with this boundary.
16.4 : Z Khan to P Stirling, Full ball outside off again, Stirling looks to whip it towards the off side but the ball goes off the bottom edge towards the right of the keeper. The batters set off for a run, the keeper picks it up and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.
16.5 : Z Khan to M Adair, Short ball outside off, very slow. Adair swings his bat at it but misses the ball completely.
16.6 : Z Khan to M Adair, Wide! Too short this time, over the head of Adair. Wide signalled.
Z Khan to M Adair, Full ball outside off, almost on a yorker length. Adair thought that this was too wide for him to play at it and leaves it alone. However, it is inside the tramline and a very valuable dot ball for UAE.
17.1 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Excellent delivery! A yorker on middle, not a lot Stirling can do there. He jams it out towards point for one.
17.2 : J Siddique to M Adair, One more delivery, right in the blockhole. Adair whips it through mid-wicket for only one. Singles won't harm UAE.
17.3 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Just the two! Boundaries not coming here. A low full toss, not easy to hit those. Stirling manages to mistime it over the bowler's head for two.
17.4 : J Siddique to P Stirling, FOUR! Cheeky, very cheeky. That shot was on and Stirling got the desired result. This is a length ball, Stirling paddle scoops it past short fine leg and bags a boundary. Ireland need a few more before the end of the innings.
17.5 : J Siddique to P Stirling, Beautiful yorker by Siddique, on the middle pole. Adair makes room and carves it but it goes straight to the man at point.
17.6 : J Siddique to M Adair, Another yorker, dipping onto Adair. He manages to dig this one out towards long on for a single. Retains strike for the next over.
Third man comes up...
18.1 : Z Khan to M Adair, Short ball outside off, Adair pulls this one towards mid on uppishly and the batters take one.
0.0 : Third man drops back. Long off comes up. The length is going to be readdressed.
18.2 : Z Khan to P Stirling, Wide! Full ball wide outside off, but it is way too wide for the batter to get anything on it.
Z Khan to P Stirling, FOUR! Sultan tries to go for the catch but it has cost UAE four runs. Was it really the need of the hour? Short of a length ball outside off, Stirling pulls this one uppishly towards mid-wicket. The man there, Sultan, runs to his right, slides and tries to take the catch but does not get to it. The ball goes from underneath him and into the fence.
18.3 : Z Khan to P Stirling, Good yorker by Zahoor Khan! Bowls this one on the middle pole and Stirling does well to jam it out.
18.4 : Z Khan to P Stirling, OUT! RUN OUT! Paul Stirling has run out of steam probably in these super hot conditions. Fullish ball on middle and leg, Stirling drives this one down the ground towards long on. Adair is off from the non-striker's end for a double but Paul looks tired on the first run itself. He obliges to the call for the second run from Adair as he is not running to the danger end. However, the fielder at long on is clever enough to throw it to the keeper. Boota collects it and wh
Gareth Delany is the new man in.
18.5 : Z Khan to G Delany, Short ball outside off, Delany gets the top half of the bat on it and the ball rolls towards long on for a couple.
18.6 : Z Khan to G Delany, OUT! CHOPPED ON! Gareth Delany departs after a very short stay at the crease. Short of a length ball on off, slower in pace, Delany tries to pull this powerfully towards the leg side with a jump. However, he manages to get just an inside edge on that one and he chops that onto the middle and off pole. Ireland falling apart in the end here.
Rohan Mustafa to bowl the last over.
19.1 : R Mustafa to M Adair, OUT! TIMBER! Two wickets in two balls for UAE. Ideal start to the last over as the guy who had spent some time in the middle is walking back. He comes down the track. The ball initially tends to come in but then drifts away. Adair plays down the wrong line, misses and the off stump goes for a walk. Can UAE keep Ireland under 130? Also, Mustafa will be on a hat-trick as he picked up a wicket on the final ball of his last over.
George Dockrell to face potentially the last 5 balls. He will be facing the hat-trick ball as Mustafa took a wicket on the last ball of his last over and a wicket on the first ball of this over.
19.2 : R Mustafa to G Dockrell, No hat-trick. He bowls a full toss on middle, this is hit down to long on for one.
19.3 : R Mustafa to S Getkate, OUT! RUN OUT! A late, late decision there by the umpire. Dockrell can't believe it but he has to walk back and replays show that it is the right decision. Good one by the umpire as it was not an easy decision. A yorker on off, it is jammed out to the left of the bowler. The striker wants a run. Dockrell hesitates but then goes for it. The bowler picks the ball up and fires it to the keeper. It is not the best of throws as it is wide. The keeper collects it and then
Shane Getkate is the new man in.
19.4 : R Mustafa to D Delany, OUT! That is as plumb as it gets! Another one bites the dust. Mustafa has another wicket. His 4th. This is extremely full and on middle, Delany looks to play it across the line but misses. It hits the front pad. An appeal and up goes the finger.
Boyd Rankin is the last man in for the Irish.
19.5 : R Mustafa to B Rankin, One more very full ball on middle, Rankin looks to jam it out but it goes off the inside edge towards short fine leg for one.
19.6 : R Mustafa to S Getkate, OUT! Another run out! Just the 3 runs and 4 wickets in the last over. The last ball is played towards long on. They take one and go for the second which is probably not on. The fielder picks it up and fires it to the bowler who collects it and then throws it onto the stumps. An appeal and up goes the finger. IRELAND HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 125!
6 wickets in the last 9 balls, mayhem! UAE have bounced back! They were miserable in the field last evening but pulled up their socks against a bigger challenge in Ireland. Their spinners led the way with some really accurate and tidy bowling. Rohan Mustafa was sensational with a 4-wicket haul while the likes of Ahmed Raza and Sultan Ahmed were exceptional as well.
Not too bothered about batting first, Ireland once again lost Kevin O'Brien cheaply. Andy Balbirnie too failed to get going for a change and Paul Stirling was left to do the dirty work. He didn't get much support from the other end but kept on fighting. Usually known for his power hitting, Paul curbed his natural instinct and played according to the situation. His partnership with Mark Adair propelled Ireland somewhat and they managed to reach a total of 125 which on this surface looks like a ch
Well, last evening UAE managed just 108 on a similar kind of pitch. What will be their approach this time? Ireland have a good bowling attack and change in pace is going to be the key. Promises to be a close chase, do join us in a short while.