Mooney & Porterfield Star As Ireland Start With A Win

Ireland began their World T20 Qualifying campaign with a convincing 7-wicket win over Namibia in Group "A" at Stormont on Friday.

A solid bowling performance followed by an unbeaten half century from skipper William Porterfield gave the co-hosts the ideal start as they began the journey towards qualification for India next year.

John Mooney provided the platform for the win as the Balbriggan all-rounder, brought into the attack as first change, removed both Namibian openers- Stephan Baard (12) and Gerrie Snyman (7)- with just 26 on the board.

Raymond van Schoor (7) and JP Koetze managed to keep the Irish attack at bay for a few overs after that before Mooney (3-23) also dismissed the former to leave the batting side struggling on 45-3.

Koetze (18) and Sarel Burger (15) provided mid-over cameos before a defiant 21 from JJ Smit that included two sixes helped drag the visitors towards a competitive total.
George Dockrell (2-15) and Alex Cusack (2-25) were also bang on the money however and at the end of their innings, Namibia were forced to settle for 124 for 8.

Ireland opted to send Niall O'Brien in to open the reply with Paul Stirling but Davidson briefly gave the fielding side hope when he dismissed Stirling for 1 in the first over.

Porterfield joined O'Brien in the middle and it was all Ireland after that as those two reached the halfway point in control at 74-1.

The Namibians kept plugging away however and were rewarded when O'Brien fell to Burger for 45 (3 fours and a six) at the start of the 11th over.

Kevin O'Brien replaced his brother but wasn't to last long as Bernard Scholtz had him caught by Craig Williams in the next for 3.

That was to be as good as it got for Namibia however as Andrew Balbirnie (18*) kept his skipper company until the end, allowing Ireland to run out comfortable winners with those 7 wickets and 16 balls to spare.

Porterfield's unbeaten 56 came off just 44 balls and included 7 fours and a six, however it was Mooney who claimed the man-of-the-match award for what was a decisive burst at the start of the first innings.

Ireland are next in action on Sunday, when they face the USA - who lost narrowly to Nepal in the afternoon match - at Stormont.