Cricket – Slugger O'Toole

Live Cricket: Ireland v Afghanistan at Stormont – 5th ODI

Pete Baker on July 19, 2016, 2:14 pm

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After a somewhat controversial victory in the 4th One Day International on Sunday, Afghanistan have a 2-1 lead going into today’s 5th, and final, ODI against Ireland’s cricketers at Stormont. Afghanistan won the toss and put Ireland in to bat. Live video via CricketIrelandTV. Cricinfo has the usual over-by-over text commentary. Ireland made 265 for 5 from 50 overs, with an unbeaten 160 runs for opening batsman Ed Joyce. Afghanistan chasing 266 runs to win. Update Afghanistan made 253 for 9 …

Live Cricket: Ireland v Afghanistan at Stormont – 4th ODI

Pete Baker on July 17, 2016, 1:18 pm

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With the series level at 1-1 after 3 games, Ireland’s cricketers take on the touring Afghanistan team at Stormont today in the 4th One-Day International of 5 scheduled matches. Afganistan won the toss and chose to bat first. Cricinfo has the over-by-over text commentary. Live streaming video via CricketIrelandTV. Update Afghanistan made 229 for 7 from 50 overs. Update 2 Ireland 150 all out from 41.0 overs. Afghanistan win by 79 runs and take a 2-1 lead with one match remaining. Pete Baker

Live Cricket: Ireland v Afghanistan at Stormont – 3rd ODI

Pete Baker on July 14, 2016, 2:50 pm

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Live streaming cricket from Belfast as Ireland take on Afghanistan in the 3rd ODI of a 5 match series. The first was rained off, and on Tuesday Afghanistan comfortably withstood Ireland’s attempt at chasing down the total of 250 runs they set in the 2nd ODI after being put into bat. This time, Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat, setting a total of 236 all out from 49.1 overs. Ireland require 237 from their 50 overs to level the series …

ICC World Twenty20: Bangladesh v Ireland

Pete Baker on March 11, 2016, 1:00 pm

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After defeat in their opening game against ICC World Twenty20 newcomers Oman, Ireland’s cricketers now face group favourites Bangladesh in a must-win match if they are to stay in the running for the Super10 stage. Despite that favourite status, Bangladesh had a scare against the Netherlands in a narrow 8 run win and two of its bowlers’ actions have been called into question by ICC officials. Apparently the Ireland coach, John Bracewell, doesn’t anticipate making many changes to the starting eleven from the first …

ICC World Twenty20: Ireland v Oman

Pete Baker on March 9, 2016, 2:03 pm

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The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 got under way yesterday in the host country, India. The initial groups see the associate teams battle with lower ranked test nations for two slots in the Super 10 stage. The opening matches saw Zimbabwe defeat Hong Kong by 14 runs and Afghanistan overcame a spirited Scotland performance by the same margin. Earlier today, Bangladesh squeaked past the Netherlands by 8 runs. Ireland are about to open their account against the relatively unknown Oman at Dharamsala. Cricinfo has a preview …

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland v Pakistan

Pete Baker on March 14, 2015, 6:51 pm

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With just two games left in the group stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, and two places still available in the next phase, Ireland’s cricketers have their fate in their own hands. They play Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval early tomorrow morning [3.30am (GMT)] with the winner guaranteed a place in the knock-out stage. As I may have mentioned… Cricket Ireland reports on captain, William Porterfield, at the press conference Talking about his teams approach to the game and the biggest challenges …

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland v India

Pete Baker on March 9, 2015, 5:31 pm

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England, with a game still to play, have failed to qualify for the quarter-final stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 after a 15 run loss to Bangladesh this morning in Adelaide. Ireland’s cricketers can still secure a place in the quarter-finals with a win from either of their two remaining games. First up, tonight in Hamilton, New Zealand, are the unbeaten defending champions India – who are already through to the knock-out stage. Don’t expect them to take it easy …

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland v Zimbabwe

Pete Baker on March 6, 2015, 9:21 pm

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It’s a busy, and potentially significant, night/day for the Group B teams at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. At around 3.30am [GMT] on Saturday Ireland will look to put the heavy defeat to South Africa behind them when they face Zimbabwe, in a rare ODI match-up, at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Australia. And with India having done both teams a favour by, just, holding off the West Indies challenge last night to seal qualification for the quarter-finals, it’s all to play for. Ireland’s cricketers …

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland v South Africa

Pete Baker on March 2, 2015, 7:40 pm

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Ireland, and Surrey, wicketkeeper Gary Wilson sounds positive ahead of tonight’s/tomorrow’s match against South Africa in Canberra in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Given the Proteas’ comprehensive tonking of the West Indies, courtesy of captain AB de Villiers’ supreme batting prowess, that optimism may be misplaced… Meanwhile, CricketIreland talked to Ireland captain William Porterfield, John Mooney, and coach Phil Simmons ahead of the game. When asked about the prospect of facing a player in such great form, John Mooney was keen …

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland v UAE

Pete Baker on February 25, 2015, 10:24 am

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After a great team performance to overhaul the West Indies in their opening game, earlier this morning Ireland faced fellow associates United Arab Emirates in a confident mood. Winning the toss, Ireland put UAE into bat. That confidence took a knock when UAE set a total of 278 for 9 from their 50 overs, with Shaiman Anwar hitting 106 runs from 83 balls. Ireland needing 279 to win. Worse was to come when Paul Stirling’s wicket fell for 3 runs from 9 balls. Ireland …

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland v West Indies

Pete Baker on February 15, 2015, 11:58 pm

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Ireland’s cricketers are opening their account in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Nelson, New Zealand, against the West Indies tonight. There were optimistic noises from the Ireland camp in advance of the game. And they might not be misplaced. At time of writing, having won the toss and deciding to field, Ireland have restricted the West Indies to 120 for 5 from 32 overs. Spinner George Dockrell has already snaffled the key wickets of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. You can follow the match via the BBC …

Ireland v Scotland – 3rd ODI Live

Pete Baker on September 12, 2014, 3:02 pm

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With Ireland’s cricketers having already won the first two games in the three match ODI series against Scotland, the Scots are only playing for pride today at Malahide. They’re chasing a total of 242 to win after John Mooney made 96 runs from 77 balls to put Ireland on 241-9 from their 50 overs in the first innings. Live coverage via CricketIrelandTV on YouTube. Pete Baker

Ireland v Scotland – 2nd ODI Live

Pete Baker on September 10, 2014, 3:56 pm

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After a convincing victory in the first game of the three match ODI series against Scotland, Ireland’s cricketers are chasing a total of 222 in the second game for a series win at Malahide. Scotland were put in to bat and made 221 all out from 49.5 overs. Live coverage via CricketIrelandTV on YouTube. Update Ireland win by 3 wickets. 225 for 7 from 44.2 overs. Pete Baker

ICC T20 World Cup 2014: Ireland v Netherlands

Pete Baker on March 21, 2014, 9:00 am

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With two wins in their opening two games of the ICC World Twenty20 2014, Ireland are two points clear at the top of Group B with one game left. A win against the Netherlands this morning will see them comfortably through to the Super 10 stage. A loss will open the door to both the Netherlands and Zimbabwe – who easily overhauled UAE earlier today – to top the final group standings on Net Run Rate. There can be only one… Tournament hosts Bangladesh have already progressed to the …

ICC T20 World Cup 2014: Ireland v UAE

Pete Baker on March 19, 2014, 1:35 pm

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Having secured a nervy win against Zimbabwe in their opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 2014 campaign in Bangladesh, Ireland’s cricketers face tournament newbies United Arab Emirates today. With Zimbabwe overcoming the Netherlands earlier this morning, with a six off the final ball, a win would put Ireland top of the group, two points clear with only one game left – against the Netherlands on 21st March. After the opening round of games, the top team in each of the two qualifier groups …

ICC T20 World Cup 2014: Ireland v Zimbabwe

Pete Baker on March 17, 2014, 2:32 pm

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Ireland’s cricketers have opened their ICC World Twenty20 2014 campaign in Bangladesh with a win over the nominal test-playing Zimbabwe. But it nearly didn’t happen. Batting first, Zimbabwe set a daunting total of 163 for 5 wickets from their 20 overs. As the ICC match report noted, Ireland had never scored more than 156 to win a T20 International. But it could have been worse. Needing 164 runs to win, Stirling and Porterfield set about the Zimbabwe bowlers to make an opening …

ODI: Ireland v England

Pete Baker on September 3, 2013, 3:23 pm

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Ireland’s cricketers have set a respectable total of 269 for 7 in their 50 over One Day International at Malahide against an England side captained by Eoin Morgan and featuring former Ireland fast bowler Boyd Rankin. Rankin picked up 4 wickets [for 46 runs] on his England debut, but a captain’s innings of 112 runs from 142 balls by William Porterfield has made this a testing chase for England. As the BBC’s Stephan Shemilt put it Yep, after a bowling and fielding performance …

ODI: Ireland v Pakistan

Pete Baker on May 26, 2013, 4:46 pm

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A four from the last ball of the game by Kevin O’Brien saw Ireland secure a draw in Thursday’s rain affected One-Day International against Pakistan [Duckworth-Lewis applied]. Ireland’s 275 for 5 included 103 runs from 107 balls by Paul “that kid is a freak” Stirling. Going into today’s second ODI in the two game series, Ireland were confident of an upset against the test match playing Pakistan. Put in to bat, Ireland made a defendable 229 for 9. And they’ve picked up some early Pakistan wickets with the …

ICC World Twenty20 Final to expand to 16 teams

Pete Baker on April 17, 2012, 1:47 pm

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Not that Ireland’s cricketers struggled to qualify for this year’s final tournament in Sri Lanka, but the path to the 2014 World Twenty20 finals in Bangladesh has been eased by the ICC Board’s confirmation that “from 2014 onwards, the number of teams participating in the ICC World T20 from 12 to 16 men’s teams.” From the Irish Times report The decision, which will make qualification for Ireland and other association members easier, was confirmed this morning by ICC chief executive Haroon …

ICC World Twenty20 2012 Qualifier Final

Pete Baker on March 24, 2012, 2:11 pm

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Both Ireland and Afghanistan have qualified for Sri Lanka, and Ireland have already played one match today, but hopefully the final will be a close game. Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat. Live text ball-by-ball commentary here. Adds Or, thanks to John below, watch it live here. Afghanistan 152 for 7 from 20 overs. Update Afghanistan made 152 from their 20 overs. Not as high a total as they were threatening, thanks to a spirited bowling and fielding performance by Ireland. Key moment being …