O'Brien the Younger blasts Ireland to second win

CRICKET:SLASH AND turn was the order of the day as Ireland made it two from two in their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable, 116-run victory over Oman at Krugersdorp near Johannesburg yesterday.

Ireland’s own “Master Blaster”, Kevin O’Brien, provided the slash as he bludgeoned a century off 91 balls in a total of 285 for four at the Stan Friedman Oval, while Regan West claimed his first five-wicket international haul as his left-arm spin proved key in bowling out the Gulf state for 169.

Earlier, skipper William Porterfield had won his second toss and elected to bat. The Gloucestershire player failed to repeat his century-making heroics from the victory over Scotland, falling for 32 after a first-wicket partnership of 65 with Gary Wilson.

Eoin Morgan also missed out this time, making just one, while Wilson fell just four short of a half-century. Niall O’Brien chipped in with 20, but it was younger brother Kevin who took the plaudits with his third international century.

Joined by Andrew White with the score on 111 for four, the pair set about consolidating the innings at first, with O’Brien more circumspect than usual in bringing up his half-century off 67 balls.

With 10 overs left and still six wickets in hand, the shackles were removed as O’Brien and White moved up through the gears and slammed the Oman attack for 107, with O’Brien moving from 50 to his century in just 23 deliveries, hitting five sixes and six fours.

As often is the case when they bat together, White played the perfect foil, with his clever running and shot selection helping the former Northants player finish on 71 not out as the pair added 174 for the fifth wicket.

Oman started well and moved to 97 without loss after 16 overs as Ireland’s seamers struggled.

The introduction of West turned the tide, the left-arm spinner taking three wickets in his first seven balls, while Eoin Morgan also contributed a run out as Oman then stumbled to 103 for four.

Ireland next take on Uganda at the same venue on Saturday.

Scoreboard

IRELAND

W Porterfield c Ilyas b T Hussain 32

G Wilson c Ahmed b Siddiqui 46

E Morgan c and b Ilyas 1

N O’Brien c Parmar b Siddiqui 20

A White not out 71

K O’Brien not out 101

Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 8) 14

–––––

Total (for 4 wkts, 50 ovs) 285

Did not bat: A Cusack, T Johnston, R West, P Connell, B Rankin.

Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-66, 3-110, 4-111.

Bowling: A Khan 3-0-15-0; F Khan 5-0-30-0; A Ilyas 7-0-32-1; T Hussain 10-0-70-1; Z Siddiqui 10-1-44-2; A Ali 1-0-3-0; H Mehta 10-1-54-0; K Rasheed 4-0-31-0.

OMAN

Z Siddiqui b West 48

N Parmar c Johnston b West 41

A Khan run out 0

A Ilyas c White b West 5

S Ahmed c Wilson b West 10

H Mehta c Porterfield b Connell 32

A Ali c N O’Brien b West 6

F Khan c K O’Brien b White 0

K Rasheed not out 3

M Hussain lbw b Connell 7

T Hussain b Connell 0

Extras (b 1, lb 7, nb 1, w 8) 17

–––––

Total (all out, 37.3 ovs) 169

Fall of wickets: 1-98, 2-98, 3-103, 4-103. 5-118, 6-139, 7-140, 8-161, 9-169.

Bowling: P Connell 4.3-0-24-3; B Rankin 5-0-31-0; T Johnston 5-1-28-0; K O’Brien 3-0-17-0; R West 10-2-26-5; A White 9-1-31-1; A Cusack 1-0-4-0.

Man of the Match: Regan West.