Ireland claim World Cup qualifier title

Cricket:A brilliant unbeaten century from skipper William Porterfield helped Ireland romp home to a nine-wicket victory over Canada to claim their first ICC World Cup qualifier title at SuperSport Park in Centurion today.

Ireland saved the best for last to post their most emphatic victory in South Africa, bowling out the Canadians for 185 before losing just one wicket as they chased down their target with 45 balls to spare.

Trent Johnston was the star with the ball as his dramatic introduction was the cue for an implosion in the Canadian innings that had been rolling along at close to seven an over.

Johnston’s five wickets for just 14 runs, a One Day International record for Ireland, reduced them to 88 for six.

Umar Bhatti helped Canada make a recovery, scoring 46 before he was run out after a ninth-wicket partnership of 54 with Khurram Chohan, who fell the same way the very next ball to wrap up the innings for 185 with two overs remaining.

Porterfield and Gary Wilson built a steady opening stand and had put on 89 before Wilson went for 38.

After bringing up his half-century off 80 deliveries, Porterfield started to move through the gears alongside Niall O’Brien. He passed the 500-run mark in the tournament when he made it to 89 and followed it up with his second century with a four through extra cover.

That was the 13th four of his innings and just two balls later O’Brien was struck the winning boundary as Ireland triumphed in the only competition in Associate cricket that they had yet to win.

Scores
Canada 185 (48 ovs)(U Bhatti 46, A Mulla 36, K Chohan 26; T Johnston 5-14, B Rankin 2-34), Ireland 188-1 (42.3 ovs)(W Porterfield 104no, N O'Brien 38no, G Wilson 38). Ireland won by 9 wkts and take title