Ireland edge closer to qualification

Ireland look set for qualification for the 2015 World Cup after comfortably beating UAE for a second time, winning by six wickets in Sharjah. The result continued their dominant campaign and gave them a six-point lead at the top of the World Cricket League Championship.

UAE were put into bat and found themselves in a spot of bother after a double-strike from Trent Johnston removed Abdul Shakoor and Faizan Asif with the score just 8. UAE did get starts from batsmen Khurram Khan (30), Swapnil Patil (30), Shaiman Anwar (39) and Mohammad Azam (34), yet none of them could capitalise and build a solid score.

Ireland's seamers took control of the innings, with Trent Johnston leading the way with 4 for 25. He was ably supported by Alex Cusack, who picked up 2 for 40, and John Mooney who finished with 2 for 46. UAE were skittled out for 196 with two balls to spare in their innings.

Ireland's chase was led by captain William Porterfield, who after losing Paul Stirling with the score at 29, put on a 48-run stand for the second wicket with Ed Joyce. Porterfield continued to anchor the innings, as he batted in partnership with Niall O'Brien, putting on 47 for the third wicket.

Porterfield fell on 77 in the 39th over with the score 138 for 4, but Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien remained unbeaten on 39 and 25 respectively, to finish off the chase with two overs to spare.

"It was a great performance and fantastic to get four points," Johnston said. "It was very hard to come here and get two wins from these guys. They were unbeaten in four games at home, so we probably have one foot on the plane to Australia. We haven't spoken about it yet but Simmo [Phil Simmons] will want us to go out and win those four remaining games - that's our goal."