Ireland never in danger of a slip-up, insists Porterfield

WILLIAM Porterfield has insisted Ireland’s second victory at the World Cup Qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe was more comfortable than it looked. The captain was dismissed for a chanceless 111 — his 11th ODI century — with Ireland just 24 short of victory and seven overs and five wickets left. But it wasn’t until Gary Wilson hit the first ball of the final over to the boundary that Ireland claimed a fourwicket win over battling Papua New Guinea to send them clear top of Group A. ‘It was comfortable in the end, we lost a couple of quick wickets, but George Dockrell and Wilson saw us home,’ said Porterfield. ‘It would have been nice to finish it earlier but it’s two more points.’ With Andy McBrine taking ODI best figures of 3-38, Ireland reduced PNG to 55 for five but a 151 from opener Tony Ura took the Pacific islanders to 236. With a partnership of 108 for the third wicket between Porterfield and Ed Joyce (53), Ireland set themselves up for victory.