Ireland hoping warm-up defeat will focus minds on qualifier

It’s not often that defeat is welcomed by an international sportsman but Ireland wicket-keeper

Gary Wilson

believes yesterday’s 18-run loss to Papua New Guinea in Dubai in the final warm-up game ahead of the World Twenty20 qualifier is just the reality check needed before the tournament starts.

Ireland have twice lost their opening games in the previous T20 qualifiers held in the UAE, but both times have went on to qualify for the finals. Last year they followed up an opening defeat to Namibia by winning 10 straight games to win the tournament and the African side are first up tomorrow morning at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Head coach Phil Simmons left three of his frontline bowlers out of yesterday's game, with Trent Johnston, Max Sorensen and Alex Cusack bound to be key to chances over the coming 16 days with Ireland looking to grab one of the six places on offer for next March's finals in Bangladesh.

In his last tournament before he retires, Johnston will again be key with the new ball, but player management will be vital with games set to take place in temperatures reaching the mid-30 degrees.

Against Papua New Guinea, Simmons took the chance to give Stuart Thompson, James Shannon and Andrew McBrine a game with the full squad likely to be used in the hectic group stage where Ireland will play seven games in 10 days, including two blocks of three games in three days.

Top-scoring
PNG made good on a promising start to make 161 for eight from their 20 overs at ICC Global Academy Ground, with former England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones top-scoring with 39 from 26 balls before becoming the second of three wickets for Kevin O'Brien, who finished with figures of three for 31 from his four overs.

In reply, Ireland also got off to a good start but the loss of Kevin O’Brien to a poor leg-before decision after he had made 30 from 19 balls proved key, with Wilson going on to top score with 36 off 26 balls before departing off the first ball of the final over as he looked to hit a second six with 24 required to win. Wilson, though, is confident the defeat will focus minds ahead of a gruelling tournament that has proven to be all about momentum in the past.

“You know I think we’re lucky in a way that our upset this year has come in a warm-up game. Obviously it’s disappointing, but we’re really looking forward now to the tournament starting proper against Namibia,” he said.

Ireland have been ranked number one and have avoided their main rivals Afghanistan, the Netherlands and Scotland, who all play in Group B. The two group winners will automatically qualify for the finals and thus avoid a convoluted series of play-off games to decide the other four teams that will travel to Bangladesh.

Ireland will be without batsman Ed Joyce for the opening stages of the qualifier as the Sussex captain has remained in England to be at the birth of his second child.