POOL A: Ireland sputter through to semis
PETER Connell brought Ireland back from the brink of an embarrassing World Twenty20 Qualifying exit at Stormont on Sunday.
The North Down seamer took three wickets for just eight runs after Ireland's batsman and a risky tactical decision had put their place in the semi-finals in real jeopardy.
Ireland will now face Kenya on Monday morning in the last four this morning when a victory will secure their place in next year's World Twenty20 finals in England but they were perilously close to elimination.
With heavy rain threatening in the distance before the toss, Ireland coac h Phil Simmons and captain William Porterfield broke with convention and decided to bowl first.
It was a bewildering move which Simmons said was based the importance of posting a total on a Stormont pitch that has been difficult to bat on throughout the tournament.
But the move backfire when Ireland then limped to just 43 for seven in nine rain-affected overs, and seemed that their hopes of a money-spinning trip to England were in the balance.
Duckworth-Lewis dictated that the Bermudan target was increases to 46 in nine overs and they need to get there in eight to eliminate Ireland in what was a complicated picture based on net run rate.
It was drama all the way=2 0from the start of the Bermudan run chase. Ireland were by now second favourites but they had a breakthrough with the first ball of the innings, as Connell forced Christopher Foggo into a reckless shot and he was well caught by substitute Thinus Fourie.
David Hemp, the Glamorgan batsman, was the big danger but Connell produced a beauty to take the outside edge of the left-hander's bat just two balls later to leave the Bermudans teetering on 0 for two.
Connell was superbly supported by Andre Botha and Alex Cusack, who conceded just four and five runs respectively from their two overs and in truth the stuffing looked to have been knocked out of Bermuda after Hemp's dismissal.
Some of the Bermudan batting was bordering on the comical as they barely threatenend to get close.
Ireland, who thought they had done the hard work by beating Scotland on Saturday, made a disastrous start with the bat as a reshaped order failed to fire
Niall O'Brien was superbly caught one-handed by Oliver Pitcher diving to his left by mid-off in the second over to give Stefan Kelly a wicket with his third ball.
William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, followed two overs later, as he was trapped lbw by Kelly trying to work the ball through the leg side.
At 16 for two and the sky rapidly turning black in the distance this was a time for calm heads but instead Kevin O'Brien, promoted from number six, was comprehensively bowled by George O'Brien in the fifth over as he attempted an ugly heave across the line.
When Andre Botha had his stumps uprooted four balls later Ireland were 23 for four and in all sorts of trouble.
A long rain delay with Ireland on 41 for four after eight overs, meant when they finally resumed their innings, the game had been reduced to a nine-over contest and the host country only had another six balls to face.
Things then went from bad to worse as Alex Cusack was caught off the first delivery from Irving Romaine and Gary Wilson went stumped next ball. Ireland managed to scramble a miserable two runs from that over but fortunately it was enough in the end.
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Wednesday 15 February 2012
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