Ireland maintained their 100% start to their T20 World Cup qualifying campaign by cruising to an eight-wicket victory over Nepal at Stormont in Belfast.
The Group A leaders made it three wins from three as they dismissed Nepal for just 53 inside 14.3 overs, with Stuart Thompson and Kevin O'Brien producing career-best figures in claiming three wickets apiece.
Paul Stirling weighed in with 29 while William Porterfield was 18 not out.
Kevin O’Brien put in a man of the match performance with the ball claiming 3-8 in his four overs, while Thompson also put in an impressive performance taking 3-10 from 3.3 overs.
John Mooney chipped in taking 2-7 from two overs, meanwhile, Alex Cusack and Craig Young took a wicket apiece for 1-7 and 1-19 respectively.
Rain delayed the start of Ireland’s response and when John Bracewell’s openers did get out to the crease, Niall O’Brien’s time was short-lived after going down to Sampal Kami’s bowling for just three runs.
However, Niall O’Brien’s exit was the only real blot on the landscape as Stirling and Porterfield brought Ireland level with the Nepal score in 7.4 overs.
Stirling was bowled by Kami next ball, but then new batsman Kevin O’Brien only needed one more ball to hit the winning run to extend Ireland’s lead at the top of Group A to three points.
Ireland’s next match is against Papa New Guinea on Wednesday at Stormont.
