Paul Stirling hits 58 as Ireland defeat USA in play-off

TOP SCORER: Paul Stirling of Ireland plays a shot as Monank Patel of USA keeps during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier play-off at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare, Zimbabwe. Pic: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Three wickets from returning paceman Craig Young, and a belligerent half-century from opener Paul Stirling, helped Ireland to a six-wicket win over USA in their seventh-place play-off semi-final at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.

During what was the first-ever One-Day International between the sides, an opening partnership of 84 off 83 balls set the tone for Ireland’s run chase after being set 197 for victory. Stirling was the main aggressor, with nine fours and two sixes being the dominant scoring shots in his 45-ball 58. He brought up his 28th career ODI fifty in the eleventh over, with a reverse sweep for a boundary.