Ireland captain William Porterfield is relishing the chance to pit his wits against the world’s best after qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20.

IRELAND became the first team to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England when they laboured to a four-wicket victory against Kenya in the first semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at Stormont yesterday.

All-rounder Kevin O’Brien steered Ireland to another victory as they booked their place at next year’s World Twenty20 in England with a four-wicket win over Kenya.

CONFUSION reigned at the T20 World Cup qualifiers last night before Ireland battled to a wonderful victory over Bermuda, the rain and the ICC organisers to earn a semi-final against Kenya this morning.

PHIL SIMMONS will be looking for an Ireland victory over Scotland today in the European Championship decider at Clontarf to banish memories of the lowest point of his 15 months as national coach.

Ireland opening bowler David Langford-Smith has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.

IRELAND will discover over the next four days whether the gamble to cede home advantage to the United Arab Emirates in the InterContinental Cup round robin will seriously damage their defence of the title.

Irish pair Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey share the lead at the halfway stage of the World Cup qualifying tournament in Aruba.

Bangladesh beat Bermuda by seven wickets in a rain-affected match in World Cup Group B to claim the last place in the Super Eight.

DEPARTING Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has described Bob Woolmer as “a good coach and a much better human being”.

Half-centuries from captain Mahela Jayawardene (85), Kumar Sangakkara (76) and Chamara Silva (55 not out), guided Sri Lanka to an imposing 321 for six off their 50 overs against Bermuda in their Group B World Cup match at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya admits his side venture into the unknown against Ireland today after struggling to gather information on their World Cup Group D opponents.

IRELAND’S top cricket official has defended the right of the Irish team and five other non-Test playing nations, to compete in next month’s World Cup in the Caribbean.

ICC World Cricket League Division 1finalist Scotland has established itself at the top of the ICC Associate ODI Rankings following a very successful period for the ICC Trophy champions.

Ireland's cricketers ended their 10-day stay in Nairobi on a bleak note after suffering a six-run defeat at the hands of the Netherlands today.

Ireland coach Adrian Birrell admits it will be difficult for Ireland to pick themselves up after the defeat by Kenya saw their chances of reaching the ICC World Cricket League Division One final evaporate.

Friday’s meeting of Kenya and Ireland is a crucial one for both teams, but Ireland will feel their entire ICC World Cricket League Division 1 campaign could hinge on the result.

William Porterfield hit an unbeaten 112 as Ireland secured their first win of the ICC World Cricket League in Kenya with a four-wicket success over Bermuda at the Jaffery Sports Club in Nairobi.

In what might prove to be one of the decisive matches of the tournament, Scotland held their nerve to defeat arch-rivals Ireland by three wickets in their opening game of the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 at the Gymkhana Cricket Ground in Nairobi on Tuesday.

IRELAND’S build-up to the World Cup gathers pace today when the national side face Scotland in their opening match of the inaugural World Cricket League in Nairobi.

The Ireland cricket side has gone top of the ICC Associate ODI Rankings after previous leader Scotland was beaten by Kenya in a one-day international in Mombasa today.

IRISH cricket chiefs expect the sport to benefit from Ed Joyce’s call up to England’s Ashes squad.

A massive explosion at Bermuda’s only electricity company triggered an island-wide power blackout, paralysing commerce in the British territory and international centre for offshore insurance companies.

Brothers Ed and Dominick Joyce both chalked up half-centuries to steer ICC hosts Ireland to their first-ever World Cup with victory over Denmark at Bangor.

Ireland’s dream of qualifying for their first World Cup moved a step closer to becoming a reality when they defeated Uganda at a blustery Conber.

Hosts Ireland began their quest for a first ever World Cup spot with a comfortable win against Bermuda at Stormont.

British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington has urged the European Commission to "keep its sights high" when open aviation area talks resume next week.

Dwight Yorke has been told to prove he is worth keeping at Manchester United by Alex Ferguson.