ICC World Twenty20 qualifier, Abu Dhabi:
Ireland 202-4 (20 ovs) beat USA 124-6 (20 ovs) by 78 runs

Niall O'Brien was best of the Irish batsmen in Abu Dhabi

Ireland boosted their chances of qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20 by beating the United States by 78 runs in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Ireland made 202-4 off their 20 overs, Niall O'Brien top-scoring with 84, Alex Cusack contributing 46 and captain William Porterfield 45.

The USA recovered from 11-5 to post 124-6 off their 20 overs in reply.

Peter Connell was best of the Irish bowlers with 4-14 while Trent Johnston ended with figures of 2-17.

Irish openers Porterfield and O'Brien put on a stand of 83 for the first wicket while O'Brien and Cusack enjoyed a partnership of 89 for the second.

Ireland had lost to Afghanistan by 13 runs in their first qualifier on Tuesday.

Scotland are Ireland's next opponents on Thursday, with an Irish victory essential to ensure qualification for the Super Four stage of the tournament.

The two finalists from this competition will qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 proper in April and May, in the West Indies - the scene of Irish cricket's finest hour in 2007 as they qualified for the Super Eight phase of the World Cup.

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