News

Stirling stars with 162 as Ireland end campaign with big win

Published

3 years ago

2023/06/27

Priyan

Paul Stirling swings one away over midwicket

An assured hundred from Paul Stirling along with half-centuries of contrasting natures from Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector laid the platform for a convincing 138-run win as Ireland ensured they did not go down without a single win in the World Cup Qualifier.

But that was the fate UAE – another team knocked out of contention before this game – could not prevent as they slipped to 211 all out on a good batting track.

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem gave them a commanding start in their reply but once he was gone due to a freak run-out, the chase petered out despite a handful of cameos.

Stirling stamped his authority from ball one. With some swing on offer early on, Junaid Siddique pitched it up and Stirling leaned into the drive, caressing it away through the covers. That was an ominous sign of things to come from the big-hitting opener. Stirling stayed watchful through the first ten overs, even as Andy McBrine started to pick up the pace after a slow start. Sanchit was introduced in the attack after seven overs and made an immediate impact, trapping McBrine lbw with a length ball that seamed in from outside off.

But Stirling immediately put the pressure back on the bowlers with two back-to-back fours in the next over by Ali Naseer. He brought up his half-century off 56 deliveries. Balbirnie, coming into the match with scores of 12, 0 and 7 in his last three games, was a touch slow as he took on the role of an anchor while Stirling kept the scoreboard ticking.

Stirling reached his century off 98 balls in the 34th over, slogging Aayan Afzal Khan over midwicket to get to his 14th ODI hundred. Balbirnie reached his fifty off the final delivery of that over and both batters hit a six each off Karthik Meiyappan in the next.

Basil Hameed was brought on as UAE looked for wickets and Stirling greeted him with three sixes. Stirling and Balbirnie added 184 from 178 balls for the second wicket. After Balbirnie fell to Naseer in the 39th over, Tector came in and kept the runs coming along with Stirling.

Stirling then crossed the 150-run mark with a six off Siddique. He tried to take on a slot ball from Sanchi Sharma but a good catch by Meiyappan at deep midwicket ended his marathon knock, which comprised 15 fours and a career-best eight sixes.

But there was no relief for UAE, as Tector put them to the sword, bringing up his half-century off just 30 balls. He became Sanchit’s third victim of the game in the penultimate over, but George Dockrell and Tucker took 16 runs off the last over to set up a 350-run target.

In the chase, Waseem dominated the opening stages, hitting 45 of the 58 runs scored before he got out. A length ball from Barry McCarthy shot up and hit him on the gloves. The ball rolled towards cover, but Waseem was grimacing from the blow and started walking towards the square leg umpire while signalling for a physio, not realising that the ball was not yet dead. Balbirnie was sharp to what was happening and, seeing Waseem wandering outside his crease, swooped in and threw the stumps down.

His opening partner Aryansh Sharma was soon done in for his lack of footwork, cutting a short and wide delivery from McCarthy straight to point. Little, returning for another spell, sent back Vriitya Aravind and Ethan D’Souza in consecutive overs. McBrine put Ireland in command with two wickets in the 21st.

Sanchit, who was UAE’s best bowler, also impressed with the bat as he and Hameed added 70 runs for the seventh wicket, but they could just take them to a respectable total, with Ireland’s score never in threat of being chased down. They both hit three sixes each before Hameed skied a sweep off Dockrell to deep backward square. Sanchit was quick to follow, miscuing Curtis Campher to long-on before the Ireland bowlers mopped up the tail to complete a consolation win.

Brief scores:

Ireland 349 for 4 (Paul Stirling 162, Andy Balbirnie 66, Harry Tector 57, Andy McBrine 24; Sanchit Sharma 3-46) beat UAE 211 in 39 overs (Muhammad Waseem 45, Sanchit Sharma 44, Basil Hameed 39; George Dockrell 2-32, Andy McBrine 2-34) by 138 runs

(Cricinfo)

All News Advertisement

Up Next

Special Advisory Committees on Women’s Affairs to be appointed to every PS in Central Province

Don't Miss

Privilege issue: House warned against move to summon SC judges

Click to comment

News

Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nalinda

The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.

Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.

According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.

The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.

The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.

The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.

News

AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

President Anura Kumara

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.

The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.

The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.

President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.

News

SL to receive 10 helicopters from US

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.

The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.

US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.