Ireland and the UAE unexpectedly combined for the most exciting match of the Cricket World Cup so far; an absorbing contest that was ultimately decided in Ireland’s favour by just two wickets, and with four balls to spare.
Check out our quick review of the game below:
Day 12 Results
Ireland v UAE
One of the defining characteristics of the best test playing cricket nations is that they always find a way to win despite not playing their best cricket. It happens time and time again when associate nations (a la Afghanistan against Sri Lanka) give the better teams an almighty scare before eventually losing composure and confidence or letting nerves get the better of them. It has happened to Ireland in the past too, but last night they were able to get one over UAE in similar circumstances; displaying the winning mentality of a top 8 side that allowed them to scrape home against an excellent UAE effort.
UAE capitalised on a solid start to post 278 from their 50 overs and set Ireland a tricky chase. The innings featured their first World Cup hundred to batsman Shaiman Anwar, and their first hundred run partnership in World Cup cricket too, between Anwar and Amjad Javed. They were helped by some ordinary death bowling (theme of the tournament), and some strange tactics from Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien.
Ireland managed the tricky chase relatively comfortably despite a clump of wickets at the beginning and the end of the innings. The key to Ireland overhauling the 278 was the partnership between Gary Wilson and Kevin O’Brien. The pair put together 72 in no time, to guide Ireland from a position of uncertainty at 171/5 to a position of dominance that was never relinquished. The tense scenes were tailor-made for the hard hitting O’Brien, but not so for the UAE fielders who went down like cramping flies (with cramp) and put down catches with the same regularity.
Ultimately, Ireland did the things the great teams do. Win, when perhaps they shouldn’t.
Ireland 279 for 8 (Wilson 80, K O’Brien 50, Javed 3-60) beat UAE 278 for 9 (Anwar 106) by 2 wickets
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