Porterfield paves way for Irish cricket win

Ireland survived a mid-innings wobble to record a comfortable five-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first game of their quadrangular series in Sri Lanka.

Chasing a relatively modest 122 for victory, skipper William Porterfield smashed nine boundaries as he raced to 46 from just 30 balls.

Porterfield and Niall O’Brien (18) added 52 in just 6.1 overs to set Ireland well on course for a win that launches their bid to qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean in April.

Karim Sadiq (two for 17) brought a semblance of control to the wayward attack, and having dismissed Porterfield, followed it up with the wicket of Andre Botha (5).

That sparked a nervous period for the Irish as they faltered from 91 for two to 98 for five in the space of 12 balls.

Gary Wilson (16*), and John Mooney (9*) however settled the dressing room as they added an unbroken 26 to achieve the win with 11 balls to spare.

Earlier former captain Trent Johnston took four for 22 in an inspired spell, continuing his superb form of 2009.

Andre Botha (three for 14) was not far behind Johnston in the bowling stakes, while 17-year-old left-arm spinner George Dockrell showed why he is highly rated in Irish cricket circles, taking two for 11 in a superb display of control and variety.

Raees Ahmadzai (33*), skipper Nowroz Mangal (27), and Shafiqullah Shafiq (23), all got starts for Afghanistan, but no-one was able to break the shackles of a disciplined and penetrative Irish attack.