The Irish cricket team got their Twenty20 World Cup qualification back on track after a 78-run demolition of the USA in their second qualifying match in Group A in Abu Dhabi, writes RTÉ Sport's John Kenny.
After losing to Afghanistan on Tuesday, Ireland knew they had to beat the USA or their dreams of competing in April's Twenty20 World Cup finals would be over.
Irish captain William Porterfield won the toss and decided to bat and it proved to be the correct decision as he and fellow opener Niall O'Brien battered the US attack with the pair taking the score to 83 in the eighth over.
Porterfield was the first to perish when he went for 45 but made it off just 28 deliveries, which included five fours and one six.
Niall O’Brien, however, continued to plunder the US bowlers, going past his 50 in fine style with a six over long on.
The Irish wicket keeper, ably assisted by Alex Cusack (46) who had replaced Porterfield, went on to make a wonderful 84 off just 50 balls, a new record for an Ireland batsmen in Twenty20 which included 10 fours and two sixes as Ireland ended their innings on 202 for four.
The US reply started poorly as Carl Wright and Lennix Cush went in the very first over off the bowling of Peter Connell.
The back of the US innings was broken when they slumped to 25 for six in the sixth over with Connell taking four for 14 in his four overs.
Ireland then let their opponents off the hook slightly when Aditya Thyagarajan (72) and Orlando Baker (28) added 99 runs for the seventh wicket, but it was in vain as Phil Simmons' side jumped ahead of the US on the Group A table due to a superior run rate.
A win over Scotland on Thursday would put Ireland through to the Super 4s but even a defeat may also be good enough if Afghanistan, as expected, beat the USA.
Scotland lost to Afghanistan by 14 runs today to end their interest in the competition.
