Ireland pulls off thrilling four-wicket victory over Scotland in ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast by ICC Media Release

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Event:

ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2008

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DateLine: 2nd August 2008

 

Andre Botha’s all-round performance earns him man-of-the-match award

 

Alex Cusack and Andre Botha shared seven wickets between them as Ireland recorded a thrilling four-wicket victory over Scotland in a low-scoring Group A match of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at Stormont in Belfast, Ireland on Saturday.

 

Fast bowler Cusack bagged 4-21 and all-rounder Botha picked up 3-18 as Scotland’s decision to bat first backfired as it was bowled out for 117 on the last ball of the 20th over.

 

Neil McCallum with 27 and captain Ryan Watson with 24 were the main run-getters for Scotland.

 

But Scotland fought back gallantly to reduce Ireland to 104-6 with 14 runs required for victory off the last nine deliveries. In the last over, Ireland needed nine runs but Andrew White struck a boundary off the first ball and picked up the remaining runs off the next four deliveries as Ireland won with one ball to spare.

 

White finished with an invaluable 11 not out but it was Botha who top-scored for Ireland with a 34-ball 38 that included a four and a six. For his 3-18 and 38 runs, he was declared man of the match.

 

In the last match of the opening day, the Netherlands will play Canada and not Bermuda as mentioned in the previous release.

 

Bermuda will play both its first round matches on Sunday – against Scotland at 0930 (local time) and against Ireland at 1630 (local time).

 

At stake in the Belfast tournament are two or possibly three places in the ICC World Twenty20 2009 being staged in England . Both finalists will qualify for the tournament which will take place at Lord’s, The Oval and Trent Bridge next June.

 

The third place to be decided by a third and fourth-place play-off is dependent on Zimbabwe Cricket’s Board ratifying a decision taken by its officials during ICC Annual Conference week, to step back from the tournament.

 

Scores in brief:

 

Group A

 

Ireland beat Scotland by four wickets

 

Scotland 117 in 20 overs (Neil McCallum 27, Ryan Watson 24; Alex Cusack 4-21, Andre Botha 3-18, Kevin O'Brien 2-29)

 

Ireland 118-6 in 19.5 overs (Andre Botha 38, Niall O'Brien 22; Glenn Rogers 2-15, Dewald Nel 2-19)

 

 

Group B

 

Netherlands beat Kenya by 19 runs

 

Netherlands 153-5 in 20 overs (Ryan ten Doeschate 56, Darron Reekers 29, Eric Szwarzcyniski 28; Hiren Varaiya 2-24)

 

Kenya 134-9 in 20 overs (Steve Tikolo 37; Edgar Schiferli 3-23, Ryan ten Doeschate 3-27, Peter Borren 2-36)

 

Full scorecards are available online at:

 

www.iccworldtwenty20qualifier.com

 

For more information go to:

 

www.iccworldtwenty20qualifier.com