Porterfield: Cusack never seems to let us down
Ireland captain William Porterfield has heaped praise on Alex Cusack after the seam bowler took two wickets in the final over to see his side to a nail-biting win over Zimbabwe at the World Cup in Hobart on Saturday.
Defending just seven in the last over, Cusack kept his nerve as he dismissed Regis Chakabva and Tawanda Mupariwa to finish with figures of four for 32 in just over nine overs to bowl the Irish to victory.
Porterfield said: "In those final overs, asked to defend 330 and (to finish with) 4 for 30 just under 10, fantastic effort. Yeah, he's done well. He never really seems to let us down, and today was no different."
The Irish skipper also defended the decision to use Kevin O'Brien for the second last over f the innings, the burly allronder got smashed for 19 in rthe penultimate over of the innings
Poterfield explained: "He bowls at difficult times. You look at all his overs and he never shirks away from that responsibility.
"It's great having someone fast in the top order that can do that job with the ball, and as you've seen throughout this tournament it's very difficult, and he's bowled very well in stages and been unlucky."
The win means Ireland are still on track to reach the knock-out stages of the tournament. They still have group games against India and Pakistan to come.
Latest
-
NewsJoe Root wants England to free themselves from fear in fourth Test against India
The tourists will be hoping to level the series at 2-2 when they start the final match in Ahmedabad.
-
NewsZak Crawley vows England will be more proactive in battle against India’s spin
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have run riot in helpful conditions.
-
NewsDale Steyn heaps praise on Pakistan trio, prefers PSL over IPL
Record South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is full of praise for Pakistan players Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Babar Azam.
-
NewsChris Gayle sets sights on third T20 World Cup title
West Indies veteran Chris Gayle has set his sights on winning a third T20 World Cup when he makes his return to international cricket.
-
NewsCricket in line to receive significant chunk of £300m sports recovery package
The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the support, describing it as “a lifeline for parts of the game”.
-
NewsMarcus Trescothick relishing return to ‘special environment’ with England
Trescothick is England’s new batting coach.
-
NewsJack Leach feels here to stay after establishing himself as top England spinner
Leach made his debut almost three years ago in New Zealand but had made only 10 appearances before the turn of the year.
-
NewsKevin O’Brien says century against England helped Ireland ‘reach for the stars’
O’Brien hit a 50-ball 113 as Ireland chased down a target of 328 in the 2011 World Cup.
-
NewsIan Harvey is Gloucestershire interim coach after Richard Dawson joins England
Dawson has accepted the position of ECB elite pathway coach