"Karate" Chandran - who's too young to remember the days when Hai Karate aftershave was in vogue, though a couple of his team-mates in their early 40s might - isn't particularly the most obvious man to bowl in a powerplay, though with Guruge off the field injured, the UAE may not have too much choice. Wilson seems to realise this, unleashing a fierce cut shot for four. Seven from the over, though the required rate is a shade north of eight-and-a-half an over. Balbirnie has 24 from 36 balls, Wilson has an altogether more enterprising 36 from 35.

Alan Lewis
Ex-Ireland batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"The UAE have played very well this evening. They have bowled terribly well and kept Ireland under pressure the whole time."

Listen to ball-by-ball TMS commentary by clicking on the 'Live Coverage' tab.

With the players refreshed, it's Rohan Mustafa to continue for his seventh over. He's not looked like taking a wicket, but with the modern rules only allowing four men outside the circle, 0-20 from six overs is perfectly respectable. Balbirnie tucks into a full toss which he whips towards cow corner for three to bring up the fifty stand - and then Wilson pushes the ball through extra cover for an all-run four! Told you the Gabba was vast.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Ireland required 159 off the last 20 overs at 7.95 per over.

"Since 1 Jan 2010, only five teams have achieved a higher run rate in the last 20 overs to win a full 50-over ODI batting second.

"One of those was Ireland, who needed 162 off the last 20 overs when they beat England in Bangalore in the 2011 World Cup."

A change of bowling as Tauqir is off after taking 2-38 from nine overs, and Krishna Chandran is on to bowl some right-arm medium pace. If you weren't with us first thing, Chandran is also known, wonderfully, as Krishna Karate (and Kevin O'Brien celebrated catching him by "doing The Crane").

And it's as if a pressure valve has been released, as Balbirnie and Wilson find things much easier against him. Wilson even finds the boundary again as he inside-edges a four past the keeper. Drinkies, with 137 needed from 96 balls.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Bichel
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"Ireland are showing more intent now, and Wilson is pushing things hard. They are chasing a big total, but UAE took close to a hundred off the last 10 overs.

"But you don't want to put too much responsibility on Kevin O'Brien coming in at seven. We know he can hit boundaries, but one of these guys has to be the guy to guide it."

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No chance of an over-rate fie with Mustafa bowling - two singles from another rapid over means Ireland need 146 from 102 balls.

Can Ireland take advantage of the UAE's creaking fielders and turn some of these ones into twos against Tauqir? A throw from the deep - I think that's 12th man Nasir Aziz - demolishes the stumps at the bowler's end, so on that occasion Balbirnie was wise to turn down a second. Wilson finally finds the boundary for the first time with a sweep shot.

Tim Brooks, external: Cricinfo has the UAE's Rohan Mustafa down as 'Right Arm Slow'. A hero to village cricketers the world over then!

Mustafa wheels away for his fifth over, three runs from it. The required rate is up to 8.21.

Andy Bichel
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"I reckon UAE have given away 10-12 runs through misfields. Some mistakes are starting to creep in.

"It is a tense time at the Gabba - Ireland need a partnership, and at the moment they are trying to sneak a few runs while they get used to the lights."

Ireland 120-4 (30 overs) - target 279

Batsmen: Balbirnie 12*, Wilson 11*

Fall of wickets: 4-1 (Stirling 3), 72-2 (Joyce 37), 94-3 (Porterfield 37), 97-4 (N O'Brien 17)

Bowling figures: Naveed 5-1-22-0, Guruge 7-0-21-1, Javed 6-0-30-0, Tauqir 8-0-30-2, Mustafa 4-0-16-0

UAE 278-9: Shaiman 106, Stirling 2-27

Ireland won toss

Scorecard

Guruge is off the field, replaced by the 12th man - and is having treatment just outside the boundary. Considering how well he bowled earlier (1-21 from seven overs), I can't help thinking that while they wouldn't wish injury on a fellow pro, it wouldn't be the worst thing for Ireland if Guruge couldn't complete his spell.

Andy Bichel
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"Guruge, the big left-arm quick, is holding his right hamstring. But it could be cramp - this ground has got a few before!"

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Wilson picks up a two with a chip towards cow corner, Balbirnie straight-drives and at the age of 43, Tauqir probably doesn't find it as easy as it used to be to bend down quickly - it's an unearned single past the bowler. And to add injury to insult (as it were), it looks like Guruge has pulled up with cramp after rushing to field it. We have a delay while the physio comes on.

Daniel Wright:, external Best headband in sport? Juan Pablo Angel back in his Villa days!

Image source, Getty Images

Just the minimum five men in the ring here - I wonder whether a more adventurous captain might bring a man in and try to dry up the singles? As otherwise, Balbirnie and Wilson find easy pickings against Mustafa and can trot along at four an over for a bit while they rebuild.

But it's easy to armchair-captain another team from the other side of the world... Interestingly, the UAE were 109-4 at this stage.

Andy Bichel
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"I would have opted for a six shot rather than a four off the free ball, but it is a boundary. Usually, when you have a free ball you take your bat and try to rip it."

And to think both sides dropped a spinner today to include an extra seamer, when spinners have been the most successful bowlers.

Tauqir then commits (for me) the ultimate sin for spinners - bowling a front-foot no-ball. Unforgivable for a spinner? I'd say so (please discuss among yourselves). It gives Balbirnie a free hit ball, which he reverse-sweeps for four.

Lachlan Keay:, external Christian Bolanos has to be in the list! Loving the spandex.

Image source, Getty Images