Ireland eyeing silverware

Ireland are determined to clinch a second successive European triumph in the ICC Intercontinental Cup when they take on Kenya in the final.

After 14 matches involving 12 teams in four different regions over a six-month period, Ireland and Kenya are left as the battle it out in Windhoek, Namibia.

Success for Ireland would cap off a fantastic year that has also seen them qualify for the World Cup for the first time.

They did that by reaching the final of the ICC Trophy in July where they lost out to Scotland, last year’s Intercontinental Cup winners, so this represents another chance to get their hands on a trophy - this time in three-day cricket.

Captain Trent Johnston underlined the significance of the competition, saying: “It is extremely important to us as a developing nation.

“We mainly play 50-over cricket and the chance to play the longer version of the game has the guys very excited. Ireland has another chance to lift a major trophy and with Scotland winning it last year, it would be nice to keep the trophy in Europe.”

Ireland reached the final with a winning draw against the United Arab Emirates in which Eoin Morgan – who has broken off his attendance of the ICC winter training camp in Pretoria to play – Jeremy Bray and Niall O’Brien all scored centuries.

Ireland also boasts an attack with plenty of first class experience so their players are unlikely to be overawed by the experience of playing in a final.

Johnston is a former New South Wales fast bowler and Adrian McCoubrey has played county cricket for Essex.

They were without off-spinner Andrew White for the semi-final as he recovered from a bout of flu and he may come into the selection equation for the final.

The spine of Kenya’s side is the same as the one that reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup and they are looking to prove their belief that they are the best side outside the current crop of Test nations.

Captain Steve Tikolo said: “With no disrespect to the other countries taking part in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, Kenya is ranked top among the associate countries. That underlines the importance for us to do well.”