Ireland ease past Jersey in T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier
JOB DONE: Paul Stirling of Ireland celebrates with Lorcan Tucker of Ireland at the end of the game. Pic: ICC
Paul Stirling eased Ireland back to the top of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier table after they cruised to a nine-wicket victory over Jersey.
Hours after rivals Scotland had trounced Italy by 155 runs to maintain their 100 per cent record in the tournament, skipper Stirling, who finished on 35 not out, secured the win which overhauled them with a six over midwicket after a superb bowling display had limited the Channel Islanders to 78 for nine.
Ireland reached their target in just 62 balls for the loss of opener Andrew Balbirnie to claim a fourth successive victory.
Having put Jersey in at the Goldenacre Cricket Ground in Edinburgh, Ireland swiftly imposed themselves with Josh Little accounting for both Julius Sumerauer and Nick Greenwood in his first over and then safely pouching a top edge from Harrison Carlyon off the bowling of Mark Adair to reduce them to 14 for three.
Barry McCarthy tempted Jonty Jenner and Ben Ward into ill-judged attempts to get the scoreboard ticking over as Jersey slumped to 25 for five halfway through the seventh over, and leg spinner Ben White did much the same to dismiss Josh Lawrenson and then the counter-punching Asa Tribe - the only man to make it into double figures - for 26 to make it 56 for seven.
In the event they managed to see out their full allocation with McCarthy's return of three for seven the most impressive contribution with the ball, but although Ward bowled Balbirnie for 25, Ireland got home at a canter.
78-9 (20 overs; A Tribe 26, Z Tribe 8; B McCarthy 3-7)
80-1 (10.2 overs; P Stirling 35*, A Balbirnie 25; B Ward 1-23)
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