Ireland on top thanks to Morgan century

UAE 77 for 4 trail Ireland 350 for 7 dec (EJG Morgan 151, JP Bray 78, Ali Asad 5-93) by 273 runs
Scorecard

Eoin Morgan, 19, scored a run-a-ball hundred to give Ireland the advantage on day one of their semi-final against UAE at the Wanderers Sports Club. Ireland declared on 350 for 7 and reduced UAE to 77 for 4 at the close, a lead of 273.

Morgan smashed 151 from 150 balls and ensured that Ireland's good start wasn't wasted as wickets tumbled around him. Morgan, who made his first-team debut for Middlesex in the National League last summer, hit 18 fours and a six against an under-strength UAE side.

Ireland's bowlers didn't let Morgan's good work go to waste, and Paul Morgan picked up the first two wickets of captain Arshad Ali and Sammer Ali with only three runs on the board. The wicketkeeper, Mohammad Taskeen, and Vairamoorthy Sockalingam staged a recovery with a third-wicket stand of 53 - aided by 12 no-balls - before Ireland's captain Trent Johnston removed Sockalingam. Kyle McCallan then accounted for Kafish Ahmed to leave Ireland well in charge.

After Johnston won the toss and put his side in, openers Dominick Joyce and Jeremy Bray - who has turned out for New South Wales - put on 111 for the first wicket. After a second-wicket stand of 32 between Morgan and Bray, Morgan took charge as wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. Ali Asad was the pick of the bowlers, keeping UAE in the match with an impressive 5 for 93.