Ireland,Afghanistan qualify for next year’s World T20

Ireland and Afghanistan qualified for next year’s World T20 after winning their respective matches in the Qualifiers. Ireland downed Hong Kong by 85 runs for its seventh successive victory while Afghanistan defeated Kenya by 34 runs that gave the Asia side its sixth win in seven matches.

Sunday’s results mean Ireland and Afghanistan have topped their respective groups and have qualified automatically for the event proper. This is Ireland’s fourth successive qualification for the World Twenty20 having played in the 2009,2010 and 2012 tournaments,whereas for Afghanistan,it will be the third time when it will feature in the event after appearing in the West Indies and Sri Lanka editions.

At Zayed Cricket Stadium,Paul Stirling was in devastating form when he smashed a 46-ball 77 with five fours and a six as Ireland scored 207 for 4 and then returned figures of 4-0-10-4 to help Ireland collect its 17th consecutive victory in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

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At Sharjah Cricket Stadium,Afghanistan batted first and collected 148 for nine. Noor Ali Zadran with a 48-ball 50 helped Afghanistan post a competitive score on the board.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 148/9 (N Zadran 50; C Obuya 2/11) bt Kenya 114 (R Patel 52,S Shenwari 5/13); Ireland 207/4 (P Stirling 77,K O’Brien 62) beat Hong Kong 122 (JJ Atkinson 48,P Stirling 4/10)