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Ireland exit T20 World Cup after defeat to outsiders Namibia

Ireland's T20 World Cup campaign came to a premature end on Friday following defeat to Namibia. ...



Ireland exit T20 World Cup aft...
Other Sports

Ireland exit T20 World Cup after defeat to outsiders Namibia

Ireland's T20 World Cup campaign came to a premature end on Friday following defeat to Namibia. 

Graham Ford's charges were denied progress to the Super 12s courtesy of an eight-wicket defeat in Sharjah.

A routine win over the Netherlands, followed by a heavy defeat to Sri Lanka set up Friday's winner-takes-all contest. Namibia had given themselves hope by also beating the Dutch.

Ireland - and particularly Paul Stirling - started like a train; the opener sailed past 30 before falling to the bowling of Bernard Scholz.

Kevin O'Brien finally broke double-figures for the tournament, tacking on 25 before falling eight deliveries after Stirling.

Ireland were never allowed to get into a rhythm after that, with Namibian bowler Jan Frylinck finishing with figures of 3-21, and David Wiese 2-22.

They would complete their allotted overs, but only managed 125 for 8.

Compared to the Curtis Campher Show on Monday, Ireland's attack seemed comparatively soft in comparison in Sharjah. It was the first ball of the sixth over before Namibia lost a wicket - opener Craig Williams falling to a combination of Campher and O'Brien.

They repeated the trick on Zane Green, but by that stage Namibia were 73-2 and bringing Wiese to the crease.

The all-rounder - in tandem with captain Gerhard Erasmus - built Namibian momentum towards their target. When Wiese smashed Craig Young for back-to-back 6's, the jig looked up for Ireland.

Happy to nick 1s and 2s as they edged closer to that magic 126, Namibia eventually crossed the line with nine deliveries remaining and eight wickets in hand.

There were tears of joy from the associate nation at the end, as they became the second of the tournament to claim a test scalp.

"Hurts a lot," was Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie's immediate reaction, "Really wanted to win.

"We didn't get enough runs. It will be hard to get over it, and it hurts a lot.

"I think Wiese played a brilliant hand when the rate was at 8, and their skipper saw them home.

"There are lot of good cricketers in there in Namibia, it wasn't to be."

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Andy Balbirnie Cricket Graham Ford Ireland Namibia T20 World Cup