SYLHET, BANGLADESH // William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, warned his side against thinking they are already through to the second round of the World Twenty20 - citing the UAE as a reason for caution.
The Irish claimed a three-wicket win off the final ball against Zimbabwe in a fixture that most observers predicted would decide the eventual group winner.
Ireland were coasting when Porterfield and Paul Stirling shared 80 for the first wicket in rapid time, but only limped over the line after a middle order collapse.
They face the UAE tomorrow, and the Irish captain is well aware of the national team’s merits as the two sides have been regular rivals in recent years.
“It is a great start for us but there are three games in the group and we know how dangerous UAE can be,” Porterfield said.
“We are playing in subcontinental conditions against a subcontinental team.
“We had two good games against them in the qualifiers and that is our next test for now.”
Brendan Taylor, Zimbabwe’s wicket-keeper and captain, who missed with a shy at the stumps as Ireland won with a bye off the final delivery, said his side had underperformed.
“I had a good feeling there was going to be a Super Over, but it was not to be,” Taylor said.
“We have experienced players, they have played enough cricket and the improvement has to come from within them. They need to place a higher price on their wicket.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
