World Twenty20 Qualifier: Ireland ease to win over USA

12 July 2015

ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, Stormont:

Ireland 146-6 (20 overs): Balbirnie 44, K O'Brien 23, T Patel 3-13

USA 100 (16.3 overs): Mooney 2-17, Cusack 2-19, Thompson 2-20

Ireland won by 46 runs

Ireland cruised to a 46-run victory over the United States in their second World Twenty20 qualifier match.

The co-hosts made 146-6 from their 20 overs at Stormont, with Andrew Balbirnie top scoring on 44 while Niall O'Brien added 23.

Stuart Thompson, Alex Cusack and John Mooney each took two wickets as the USA were dismissed for 100 in 16.3 overs.

It leaves Ireland with two wins from two Group A qualifiers going into Monday's game against Nepal.

The Irish started their campaign with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Namibia on Friday and this was another one-sided affair.

Balbirnie compiled his 44 from 38 balls while Thompson (15) and Mooney (20) were left unbeaten after adding valuable late runs.

Spinner Timil Patel was the pick of the USA bowlers with 3-14 while Hammad Shahid claimed two wickets.

Nicholas Standford's modest 19 was the best the USA could muster as Ireland's bowlers dominated.

George Dockrell and Kevin O'Brien also took a wicket apiece in a strong Irish display.

Also in Group A, Jersey lost to Papua New Guinea by 24 runs at Bready.

ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier: Group A
	Played	Won	Lost	Tied/NR	NRR	Pts
Ireland	2	2	0	0	+1.739	4
Nepal	2	1	0	1	+0.153	3
Papua New Guinea	1	1	0	0	+1.200	2
Jersey	2	1	1	0	-0.084	2
Namibia	2	0	1	1	-1.185	1
USA	2	0	2	0	-1.231	0
Hong Kong	1	0	1	0	-1.235	0

Top team in each group qualify automatically for World Twenty20 2016 - and semi-finals

Second, third and fourth-place teams qualify for quarter-finals, with a further four World T20 places available

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