Stirling seals series for Ireland

Cricket365
February 23, 2012

A superb all-round performance from Paul Stirling helped Ireland cruise to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Kenya in the second Twenty20 International in Mombasa on Thursday.

Stirling took two wickets before smashing 65 off 52 balls as the Irish comfortably chased down Kenya's total of 131 for seven.

It was a second successive T20 win for the touring Irish who also won the opening match on Wednesday to claim the three-match series with a game in hand.

After winning the toss and batting, Kenya's start was somewhat sedate as they trudged to 27 without loss just short of five overs. Australia-born opener Duncan Allan was the first man to go as he tried an audacious reverse sweep, only to be bowled by a Stirling off-spinner.

Veterans David and Collins Obuya tried to inject some speed into the Kenyan scoring, but the brothers struggled to find the boundary with any regularity and pressure eventually got to skipper Collins who was caught on the edge of the ropes by Nigel Jones of John Mooney.

Tanmay Mishra lasted just nine balls for his 13, while David Obuya's innings was cut short on 28 when he was leg before to Stirling.

All-rounder Rakep Patel blasted 27 off 22 which included two sixes and two fours, but he received little support at the other end as Ragheb Aga, Nelson and Nehemiah Odiambo all failed to reach double figures.

Stirling's two for 21 was best of the Irish bowlers as Kenya could only manage 131 in their 20 overs.

In reply, a 63-run opening stand from William Porterfield (23) and Stirling effectively took the contest away from Kenya who could only take solace in the fact that they claimed the wickets of the Irish captain, Porterfield, and vice-captain Kevin O'Brien who could manage just nine before he was bowled by Hiren Varaiya.

With the series now wrapped Ireland will go into Friday's final match aiming to make a clean sweep of the Twenty20 matches.