Ireland start with comfortable win

Paul Stirling cracked a half-century and Ireland put on a solid display in the field to restrict Namibia's batsman and secure a 32-run win in their opening match. Alex Cusack, back in the side after injury, took 2 for 22 and there were two run-outs, as Namibia fell short despite an unbeaten 48 from Raymond van Schoor. Ireland had been asked to bat and their total was built on a rapid opening stand of 84 between Stirling and his captain, William Porterfield, who made 33. They were separated after 8.5 overs and the scoring dipped, with Stirling then bowled by the economical Sarel Burger for 52, but useful contributions throughout the top order put them out of Namibia's reach.

UAE crushed Uganda by eight wickets in their opening game of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013-14. After losing the toss, Uganda's openers added 18 before the slide began. They lost four wickets for seven runs and then another four for 20 runs. In between those collapses, Phillimon Selowa and the captain Davis Arinaitwe made 22 each and Uganda were eventually restricted to 88 for 8 in 20 overs. UAE's openers added 70 in 11.2 overs to all but end the contest. Shaiman Anwar blitzed 54 off 38 balls, hitting three sixes, as UAE won with 5.4 overs to spare.

Hong Kong 111 for 3 (Barkat 51*) beat Italy 110 for 8 (Sandri 41, Amjad 5-12)
Scorecard

Hong Kong's Haseeb Amjad laid down an early marker for figures of the tournament as he bagged 5 for 12 to set up a convincing seven-wicket victory over Italy. Amjad's first two wickets of Andy Northcote and captain Damian Crowley left Italy 29 for 4. There was then a recovery, although Italy had to bat with caution, between Carl Sandri (41) and Michael Raso (24) before Amjad returned to claimed three further scalps - all bowled - during which he found himself on a hat-trick. With a required rate of less than a run-a-ball, Hong Kong knew they did not required anything outlandish and their chase was led by a measured, unbeaten 51 by Waqas Barkat to ensure there were no alarms.

A punishing, 31-ball fifty from Timroy Allen helped USA to thrilling win over Canada with one ball to spare. Reduced to 61 for 5 in pursuit of 138, Allen combined with Srini Santhanam for an unbroken 77-run stand to upset their more established north American opponents. Allen struck two sixes before Santhanam sealed victory by hitting the penultimate delivery for four. Canada had looked on course for victory, with legspinner Junaid Siddiqui taking 2 for 16, including the key wicket of Steven Taylor, despite being restricted with the bat. Jimmy Hansra hit 39 from 34 balls but Elmore Hutchinson and former West Indies Test bowler Adam Sanford each took two wickets apiece to help keep USA in the game.