Ireland spinners star in victory
Ireland made it back-to-back one-day victories against Canada with a 56-run win at Clontarf despite an improved showing in the field from the visitors
ESPNcricinfo staff
20-Sep-2011
Ireland 249 for 7 (Porterfield 53, Kevin O'Brien 43) beat Canada 193 (Dockrell 2-27) by 56 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Ireland made it back-to-back one-day victories against Canada with a 56-run win at Clontarf despite an improved showing in the field from the visitors. After piling up 328 in the first ODI, Ireland had to work hard to post 249 for 7 but it was still enough to come out on top.
William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, top-scored with 53 but it needed Kevin O'Brien's brisk 43 to ensure the home side gave themselves some breathing space. Canada made a brisk start in reply but soon started losing regular wickets with three of their top four being run out.
Trent Johnston made the first breakthrough when Hiral Patel's top-edged pull flew down to third man, then Ireland's excellence in the field started to show through. Johnston, despite his dodgy knees, swooped from mid-off to remove Ruvindu Gunasekera then Porterfield pounced at cover with a good return to the stumps that found Nitish Kumar short of his ground.
Canada weren't learning from their mistakes and Usman Limbada was a third to be run out as they slipped to 99 for 4. Rizwan Cheema, who has a reputation for big-hitting, immediately tried to live up to that billing but could only pick out long-on off George Dockrell. As well as the fielding, Ireland's spinners - Dockrell, who conceded less than three-an-over, and Albert van der Merwe - strangled the scoring as Canada continued to fall behind the rate.
Canada had at least shown more fight in the field. They chipped away at Ireland's top order who didn't race away with the scoring rate. When Niall O'Brien was run out the hosts were 118 for 4 and threatening to lose their way, but the experienced heads of Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien settled the innings.
O'Brien was the aggressor while Wilson provided an anchor and ensured he was there for the closing overs after O'Brien had been caught at long-on. Johnston provided a useful, unbeaten 22 down the order and although the total was not imposing it proved more than enough.
