Porterfield hits form in warm-up

WILLIAM PORTERFIELD led from the front as Ireland enjoyed a stunning opening warm-up victory ahead of next week’s World Twenty20 in India. The captain (below) scored 75 from just 36 balls as Ireland hammered Hong Kong by 10 wickets, winning the match in Dharamsala with his fourth six, to go with 10 other boundaries, with almost eight overs to spare. Andrew Balbirnie, his opening partner, er, was happy to play second fiddle and accumulate 47 off 38 balls with five fours and a six in a stand of 122. It won’t count in the record books as it was an uncapped match but the Ireland camp don’t care about that after their batting struggles in the shortest format over the last nine months. And the good form extended to the bowlers with Boyd Rankin taking a wicket with his seventh ball and conceding just 13 runs in his four overs while Tim Murtagh finished with two for 21. Hong Kong — one of Ireland’s conquerors at the World Twenty20 qualifiers last summer — were restricted to 120 for seven, an innings dominated by Mark Chapman’s unbeaten 64. Max Sorensen (1-40) and Andy McBrine (1-9) were the other wicket wicket-takers. ‘It was great to get a game under our belts and experience of playing on the ground where we play all three group games,’ said Porterfield. ‘It was a great catch by Gary Wilson at first slip which got us under way and Thommo’s (Stuart Thompson) run-out completed a sharp day in the field.’ Ireland play Zimbabwe tomorrow before their first game in the tournament against Oman on Wednesday.