Eoin Morgan thrashes Ireland to victory

Ireland XI 307 for 7 (Morgan 196*, N O'Brien 45) beat Abu Dhabi XI 282 (Fayyaz Ahmed 72, Rizwan Khan 64, Eaglestone 3-40, K O'Brien 3-48, Thompson 3-53) by 25 runs
Scorecard

Ireland's preparations for their tour of Bangladesh received a boost with a 25-run win over an Abu Dhabi XI under lights at the Sheik Zayed Stadium.

Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach, rested several senior players, and the move looked to have backfired as they slid to 12 for 3. Reinhardt Strydom who was run out without scoring on his first appearance, Paul Stirling made 0 and William Porterfield 1.

But Eion Morgan, who scored a double-hundred on this ground a year ago, thrashed a magnificent unbeaten 196, reaching his hundred off 107 balls before accelerating as the innings progressed, taking only 64 deliveries to score the remainder of his runs . He put on 97 for the fourth wicket with Niall O'Brien and then 182 in 27 overs with Alex Cusack. In all Morgan smashed 23 fours and five sixes, giving only one chance near the end.

Ireland's bowlers also showed early nerves, but Kevin O'Brien took three wickets as the home side tottered on 50 for 4. Only opener Rizwan Khan of the top five reached double figures, and when his battling 47-ball 64 was ended by Phil Eaglestone, Abu Dhabi were 94 for 5. Gopal Nitten and Fayyaz Ahmed added 89 for the sixth wicket, but they kept up a chase that was always just off the pace, although they had three-and-a-half overs remaining when they were bowled out.

The only concern for Ireland came when Cusack pulled up after one over with a groin strain.