IRE WON
T20
IRE beat Nigeria by 8 wickets
Man of the Match - Craig Young
Nigeria
66-9
20.0/20 Ovrs
 
67-2
6.1/20 Ovrs
IRE
ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier, 2019 |Match 35 |10/26/2019
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Commentary
  • Okay. That was a quick finish. Plenty of time left for the second match of the day, between Bermuda and Netherlands in Dubai at 2.10 pm local (1010 GMT). Should be another one-sider. Do come back and join.
  • Victorious Ireland captain, Gary Wilson, says that for now, Ireland are on top but they will keep a close eye on Oman's game on Sunday. Praises his side for being ruthless today and also praises Nigeria for fighting, saying further that they will improve gradually. On his team's position, Gary is happy with his unit's performance in the last 2 games. Is looking forward to Tuesday. On being asked about injuries in his side, Wilson says that David Delany has pulled up with a sore knee, so he will be assessed over the next 24 hours.
  • Nigerian captain, Ademola Onikoyi, says that this is all a learning curve. Hopes that the players learn from this tournament, stay positive and work harder. On being asked about the positives, the skipper says that landing the ball in the right areas is a positive. Believes that his young unit is working hard and will give its best on Sunday.
  • CRAIG YOUNG HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Young says that there was something on the wicket and he just tried to make the use of it. On being the 5th seamer to be given the ball to, Young says that that is the quality of the Ireland attack, as there are plenty of seamers to choose from. Is happy to see Ireland top the group stage.
  • Chasing 67 in 9 overs was the target for Ireland to top the group and that never looked in threat right from the start. Their bowlers had set up the win, making good use of the juice on the track early in the morning. It was a 10 am start, so perhaps Nigeria should have elected to bowl first. No use in thinking about bygones. Here comes the presentation...
  • 37 balls. That is all what the run chase has lasted for. The Irish batsmen came out all guns blazing. No one had any interest to stay in the middle and just went hard on the bowlers. They had to win this game inside 9 overs to top the group and they achieved that easily. But that is for now. If Oman win on Sunday, they go on top. But the Irish have done all that they could.
  • 6.1
    3lb
    C Akachukwu to G Delany, MATCH OVER! Full and down the leg side, Delany looks to flick but misses and the ball goes off his pads behind. The keeper runs after it but by that time, three leg byes are taken. That is it. IRELAND WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND 83 BALLS TO SPARE!
  • END OF OVER 6 | 10 Runs & 1 Wkt | IRE 64/2
  • Chima Akachukwu returns. 1-0-8-0 so far.
  • 5.6
    0
    D Ajekun to M Adair, Nope. Full and outside off, pushed back to the bowler. 64/2 IN THE POWERPLAY FOR IRELAND, just 3 needed.
  • 5.5
    4
    D Ajekun to M Adair, FOUR! Full and wide outside off, Adair throws his bat at it and gets it between cover and point. Will this end in the Powerplay itself?
  • 5.4
    2
    D Ajekun to M Adair, Fantastic running by the youngster. Mark punches it wide of long off, calls for two and charges back for the second.
  • 5.3
    4
    D Ajekun to M Adair, FOUR! That is brilliantly timed. The first ball he faces and he has dispatched that. On a length outside off, Adair just punches it wide of long on and the ball races away.
  • Mark Adair walks in at number 4, replacing O'Brien.
  • 5.2
    W
    D Ajekun to K O'Brien, OUT! BOWLED! Another wicket for Nigeria. Full and outside off, O'Brien looks to drive but the ball spins in, goes between bat and pad and shatters the stumps.
  • 5.1
    0
    D Ajekun to K O'Brien, Around off, worked straight to short mid-wicket.
  • END OF OVER 5 | 12 Runs & 0 Wkt | IRE 54/1
  • Daniel Ajekun to bowl now. 6th bowler in the 6th over.
  • 4.6
    0
    S Okpe to G Delany, The batsman dances down the track but decides to defend it. 12 from this over as well, 40 from the last 3 overs!
  • 4.5
    1
    S Okpe to K O'Brien, Full and outside off, KOB looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge which goes behind to point. A run taken.
  • 4.4
    2
    S Okpe to K O'Brien, Again, it is too full and too wide outside off, Kevin reaches out and looks to go over cover but slices it over the infield. One fielder runs after it, gets to the ball, parries it back to the backup fielder but the latter misses it. The ball goes far and there is a third run available, with Delany charging down, but O'Brien is not the least bit interested. In fact, he has not even looked at what has happened on the field. Clearly, he wants the strike.
  • 4.3
    4
    S Okpe to K O'Brien, FOUR! Too wide and too full, outside off, O'Brien throws his bat at it and carves it over point. Does not have enough strength but manages to trickle into the ropes. 50 UP FOR IRELAND IN 4.3 OVERS.
  • 4.2
    4
    S Okpe to K O'Brien, FOUR! Just toying with the bowlers at the moment. Full and around middle, O'Brien gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket.
  • 4.1
    1
    S Okpe to G Delany, Full and around off, pushed towards long on for a single.
  • END OF OVER 4 | 12 Runs & 0 Wkt | IRE 42/1