Kevin O'Brien stars for Ireland
Mon 13 Jul 2015
Ireland are going great guns in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifying Tournament as they have now recorded three wins from three.
In their second game in Belfast on Sunday, Ireland put 146-6 on the board with Kevin and Niall O’Brien making 23 and 7 respectively. Andy Balbirnie made the highest score of 44.
Kevin O’Brien took 1-2 from one over as USA were bowled out for 100 at Belfast, Ireland therefore winning by 46 runs.
Ireland then had a convincing eight-wicket win against Nepal today with Kevin O’Brien in tremendous form. The seamer took 3-8 from his four overs as Nepal were skittled for 53 and Ireland chased the runs down with 12 overs to spare.
Paul Stirling scored 29 and Will Porterfield made 18 not out with Niall O’Brien making 3 after opening the batting. Kevin O’Brien came in to hit the winning single to cap a great game.
* Scotland have one win and two defeats from three games as they lost by 32 runs to Netherlands and 37 runs to Afghanistan in Edinburgh over the weekend.
Wesley Barresi scored 75 and Peter Borren also scored a half-century as Netherlands amassed 191-6 and Scotland were bowled out for 159 in reply. Former Leicestershire all-rounder Preston Mommsen top-scored with 68 not out.
Mohammad Shahzad made 75 and Asghar Stanikzai, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi all posted scores in the 30s as Afghanistan put a terrific 210-5 on the scoreboard in yesterday’s match.
Mommsen was again in form with 44 and Matt Cross, who has played for Leicestershire Second XI this season, made 37 but Scotland were bowled out for 173 and lost by 37 runs.
Rob Taylor, who is making progress after a recent injury, has not played for Scotland in the qualifiers as yet.
