Cricket:Ireland enjoyed a second victory over England in the space of eight months as they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Sixes this morning in their first appearance in the competition.
Kevin O’Brien’s side added to their success at the World Cup back in March by sealing a six runs victory on the back of a fine bowling performance in the high-scoring five-over format.
They will now face Pakistan in the quarter-finals early on Sunday morning and the team are already guaranteed €5,650 for making the last eight. It would double if they could it to the last four. The winners walk away with €35,000.
After being put in to bat, Ireland made 88 for three off their five overs, with Niall O’Brien continuing his brilliant showing in the competition by hitting an unbeaten 35 from just eight balls before having to retire under the competition’s rules.
Younger brother Kevin hit 14 off eight balls at the top of the order, while John Mooney, who hit the winning runs against England in Bangalore, made an unbeaten 20 off seven deliveries.
George Dockrell opened the bowling for the first time in the competition and gave away just six runs to give Ireland the perfect start.
Kevin O’Brien’s second over went for 20, but Paul Stirling put the brakes on in the third, conceding just seven.
Alex Cusack was taken for 11 runs off the penultimate over, meaning England needed to hit six sixes off the final over, to be bowled by Mooney.
Peter Trego hit the first ball for six, but Mooney managed to follow that with a crucial ‘dot’ ball. Trego hit the next for six before retiring before Kent’s Darren Stevens closed out the innings with three straight sixes.
