AFTER SUFFERING BACK-TO-BACK defeats during the week, Ireland bounced back this morning with an emphatic win over Jersey to subsequently book their passage through to next year’s ICC World Twenty20.
It had looked like John Bracewell’s side would have to settle for a place in the playoffs after suffering unexpected, and almost ignominious, reversals to Papua New Guinea and then Hong Kong.
However, results went their way on Sunday afternoon as the group stages of the qualifying tournament concluded with Ireland doing enough in the end to top Group A.
It means they progress automatically to the 2016 edition of the tournament in India and book their place in Saturday’s semi-finals of this tournament.
It marks an incredible turnaround for Ireland who have remarkably escaped a shootout with Associate adversaries Afghanistan or Netherlands on Tuesday.
They are indebted to USA and Hong Kong who pulled off wins over PNG and Namibia respectively.
Earlier, Ireland made light work of the challenge of Jersey at Malahide in what had ultimately become a knock-out game.
John Mooney took a hat-trick as the islanders were bowled out for 122 and Ireland cantered to victory with Paul Stirling, awarded the man-of-the-match award after picking up three wickets, plundering a half-century.
Ireland must to wait to discover who their opponents will be in the last four as they go in search of a fourth straight title in this competition.
More importantly, however, is that their place in India is already assured.
For a team after test status they shouldn’t have needed to rely on other results
What do Ireland need to do to get test status? Are there specific criteria or do we have to wait to be asked?
Roughly Ireland will need to win the associates tournament in I think 2017. If we do we will play a test series vs the lowest ranked test team (probably Zimbabwe) win that and we get test status. England have promised a test at Lord’s first thing if we win. But Ireland needs to win the associated nations tournament first and for that need to be better than this
Wasnt pretty but they did the job.
Well done Ireland!