da doce： Trent Johnston and William Porterfield produced outstanding displays as Ireland crushed Canada to take the ICC World Cup Qualifiers trophy
da blaze casino： Will Luke at Centurion Park19-Apr-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentaryTrent Johnston produced a captain’s performance with 5 for 14 to set up Ireland’s huge victory•Gallo Images
If there was any doubt that Ireland might take their foot off thepedal in an essentially meaningless final, Trent Johnston and hiscaptain, William Porterfield, ensured they were focussed on the trophyas they thrashed Canada in the final of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers atCenturion Park. Johnston, whose nagging seamers cut through Canada with career-best figures, and Porterfield, who made an unbeaten 104, justified Ireland’s standing as the No.1Associate and the team to beat, as they have been all tournament.With the rest of his squad roaring , an understandably elated Porterfield was delighted with his and the team’s performances. “Obviously we qualified a few days ago, but tocome here and win the final – which was our objective – is absolutely amazing,” he told Cricinfo. “And the way we did it was fantastic. I’ve been feeling in fantastic nick.”The way we’ve bowled in the last ten overs, bar today, has been fantastic. We’ve improved game to game and our fielding has improved, and the first ten overs in our batting has been excellent.”Eighteen days ago Porterfield stamped his and Ireland’s mark on thetournament with a brutal 101 to beat Scotland. A little under threeweeks later, he finished with another beautifully craftedand dominant innings. Chasing a meagre 186, he and Gary Wilson weresolid and assured, laying down a base on which to launch their chaselater in the innings. Wilson took advantage of anything short – therewas plenty – smiting Henry Osinde over the top for six. He fell for awell-made 38, spooning to third-man, but Porterfield and Niall O’Brienthen took total command.Ireland’s captain has impressed many in this tournament, not justthrough his assured batting but his calm leadership. With O’Brien forcompany, he took apart Canada whose fielding regressed from reasonablyproficient to, at times, hopelessly average. A fierce slap past pointbrought up Porterfield’s fifty from 80 balls and the milestone prompted hischarge against Sunil Dhaniram, who bowled far too short. The firmestof off-drives brought him a boundary, followed by an elegant pick-upover long-on as Ireland reduced the chase to nothing more than strollin the park against a tired team already thinking of flying home.Porterfield aside, it was Johnston who really set up Ireland’sconvincing win with an outstanding display of swing and seam. Hisintroduction in the ninth over from the West Lane end completelyturned the match around and, with his sixth ball, he had Rizwan Cheemaedging to Kevin O’Brien at first slip. In his next over, he trappedAshish Mulla leg-before with one that skidded through low and Canadawere tottering on 69 for 3 after wasting a positive opening stand.Alex Cusack kept things tight from the other end, but Johnston was apersistent threat and found a beauty which cut back on Ian Billcliffto bowl him through the gate. He then followed it up with two wicketsin consecutive balls to record his first five-wicket haul in ODIs -and Ireland’s best figures – leaving Canada in the hopeless position of88 for 6.Ireland were well on top, though Umar Bhatti added 46 to at least helpCanada post a total resembling competitiveness. Nudging singles offhis pads and working the ball cleverly into the gaps at midwicket, hegradually began to build partnerships, putting on an entertainingninth-wicket stand of 51 from 80 deliveries which at least made the total respectable. Ireland, however, came to South Africanot just to qualify for the World Cup but to get their hands on thetrophy and, when O’ Brien hit the winning runs with 7.3 overs to spare, atlast they could truly celebrate their outstanding performance inAssociate cricket’s showcase event.The coaching staff imposed an alcohol ban on the Irish at the start ofthe tournament, even randomly breathalysing some of the players.Suffice to say, tonight’s party will be very long, very hard andrichly deserved.
