Cricket:Ireland's bid to make it to a fourth straight world event suffered a huge setback on the opening day of the qualifying event today as they went down to a 13-run defeat to an Afghanistan team that is fast becoming their bogey side.
Ireland dropped too many chances in the field, allowing Afghanistan push on to a total of 139 for eight in their 20 overs, 20 to 30 more than they should have reached.
Trent Johnston was the pick of the bowlers, with two wickets for 18 off his four overs, while Andre Botha finished with two for 25.
Peter Connell was also unlucky not to claim at least three wickets, with Afghanistan opener Noor Ali dropped off the first ball of the game by George Dockrell, while Johnston also put down a chance in the slips as Ali went on to make 42
Mohammad Nabi added plenty of impetus to their innings, with his 42 not out off 25 balls including three sixes off Dockrell in an over.
Even still, seven runs an over on a good wicket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium should have been well within reach of a strong batting Ireland line-up.
Although Ireland lost Niall O’Brien for two in the third over, skipper William Porterfield and Paul Stirling put on 30 before Porterfield was bowled by Karim Sadiq for 35.
Andre Botha was bowled two balls later by Sadiq as Ireland were reduced to 52 for three. Things got worse when Kevin O’Brien holed out for seven and Stirling departed after making 21.
Ireland’s day was best summed up by the dismissal of Alex Cusack, who was run out backing up off a free hit.
Johnston and John Mooney looked like they may rescue their side’s cause and got Ireland into a position where they required 20 runs off the last two overs.
But Johnston perished trying to go for a six over mid-wicket, while Connell was run out without scoring off the first ball of the final over.
It was all over after the next delivery, when Hamid Hasan clean bowled Mooney for nine to set off joyous scenes from the Afghanistan support in the crowd.
It wasn’t the only upset in Group A, with the USA beating Scotland by six wickets in Abu Dhabi. Ireland head to the Sheikh Zayed Stadium tomorrow to take on the Americans, knowing a victory is vital if they are to progress to May’s World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
SCORES
Group A
Afghanistan139-8 (20 ovs) (M Nabi 43no, N Ali 42; T Johnston 2-18, A Botha 2-25),
Ireland126 all out (W Porterfield 35, P Stirling 21, T Johnston 18; K Sadiq 3-17, H Hasan 2-19, M Nabi 2-25).
Afghanistan beat Ireland by 13 runs.
Scotland120-7 (20 ovs) (G Hamilton 41, J Stander 19no; K Darlington 2-19),
USA121-4 (19.1 ovs) (C Wright 62, L Cush 41; R Watson 2-10).
USA bt Scotland by 6 wkts