Advertisement
Sterling batting today. IDI/Getty Images

Ireland qualify for T20 World Cup with victory over Hong Kong

Paul Sterling was in terrific form in Abu Dhabi today.

IRELAND EARNED AUTOMATIC qualification for next year’s ICC World Twenty finals with a 85-run victory over Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi today.

Man-of-the-match Paul Sterling scored 77, the second best score from an Irish player in T20 cricket, as the Group A leaders recorded a 207-4 with their opponents all out for 122.

“I’m pleased on a personal level to do so well with the bat and ball,” Sterling said afterwards.

“But at the end of the day today was all about qualifying for the World Cup and we did that, we achieved it and we’ll take three or four days off until the semi-final.”

Ireland will now take on the winners of The Netherlands and UAE in the semi-finals on Friday.

IRELAND: 207-4 (20 overs, P Stirling 77, K O’Brien 62*, W Porterfield 38, Nizakat Khan 2-26)

HONG KONG: 122 all out (17.1 overs, J Atkinson 48, P Stirling 4-10, G Dockrell 2-18)

O’Connell: Ireland now have to ‘maintain these standards’

‘You’ve got to be able to defend until the end’ laments Joe Schmidt

Close
5 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.