Porterfield stars as Ireland win

William Porterfield was the pick of the batsmen as Ireland chased down Bermuda's total of 275 to win by four wickets in Wednesday`s ICC World Cricket League Division 1 meeting at the Jaffery Sports Club.

Having lost out to Scotland on the last delivery on Tuesday the Irish were once again involved in a thriller, but this time they finished on the winning side with the opener starring with 112 not out.

Porterfield and Kenny Carroll got Ireland off to a solid start with an opening partnership of 78 before Carroll was caught by Saleem Mukuddem off the bowling of Malachi Jones for 28.

Eoin Morgan was dismissed for a duck but Niall O'Brien's 25 off 28 balls and Kevin O'Brien's 54 off 56 - his first half century for his country - kept the scoreboard ticking over. Andre Botha and Kyle McCallan were dismissed cheaply, giving the game another nerve-wracking twist.

But despite batting at eight, Ireland captain Trent Johnston is a genuine all-rounder, as his 41 off 19 balls against Scotland on Tuesday demonstrated.

And in the end, it didn't take him long to knock off the remainder of the required runs, smashing 13 off just four balls, including two sixes, to take his side home.

Having only managed a paltry total of 133 in their opening match against hosts Kenya - a game which they lost by 10 wickets, Bermuda had come out firing in the morning.

Clay Smith and Dean Minors put together one of the country's highest opening partnerships in recent years, scoring 79 before Smith was trapped leg before wicket off the bowling of Kyle McCallan for 52.

Unlike their slick performance in the field against Scotland on Tuesday, Ireland struggled, dropping at least four catches and conceding a total of 35 extras in the innings.

Minors also reached his 50 but just one run later was caught and bowled by Andrew White, bringing the score to 158 for two. Captain Irving Romaine followed soon after, caught Kevin O'Brien off White for 26.

But a fourth-wicket partnership of 75 between Lionel Cann and David Hemp saw the Bermudans regain their momentum.

The score had reached 237 before Ireland made the crucial breakthrough and Cann was eventually caught by McCallan off Kevin O'Brien for 44. Hemp was caught on the boundary by Carroll, also off Kevin O'Brien, for 35 and then three quick wickets from Botha meant that the run-rate was slowed down somewhat.

Botha's figures were otherwise rather bleak, going for 74 off his 10 overs. That was of little consequence in the end, however, when his side powered home for their first victory of the tournament, putting their campaign back on track.

Thursday will see the teams enjoying a rest day before Ireland face Kenya on Friday at Ruaraka Cricket Club and Bermuda take on Canada at Gymkhana Cricket Club.