IRELAND SET FOR ASSAULT ON SUPER SIX

IRELAND are safely into the Super Six stage of the World Cup qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe after a 226-run demolition of United Arab Emirates in their final group game. A record opening stand of 205 between captain William Porterfield and Paul Stirling was the platform for an imposing 313-6 in just 44 overs and career best one-day international figures for Boyd Rankin and Simi Singh’s first three ODI wickets hustled UAE out inside 30 overs. The consolation for the Emirates is that will be in the Super Six as the third qualifiers from Group A after a middle order collapse by Netherlands cost them victory against West Indies, who topped the group. Gary Wilson was absent from Ireland’s first three games after returned home to be at the birth of his first child yesterday, but he is due back for the first Super Six game against Zimbabwe on Friday. Ireland will almost certainly have to win all three games to qualify for the World Cup; Scotland and Afghanistan their other opponents.