Kenya in Ireland's sights

William Porterfield took over from the injured Trent Johnston

Two-time defending champions Ireland have closed to within one win of ICC Intercontinental Cup leaders Kenya following their nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

The Irish have a game in hand over Steve Tikolo’s team and are in a strong position to reach the final for the third consecutive time.

Ireland have four remaining league fixtures - against Namibia, Kenya, the Netherlands and last year’s runners-up Canada - as they aim to reach the final in November.

At the Sheikh Zayed Stadium the UAE made 228 in their first innings before wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien struck 174 as Ireland amassed 474 in reply.

Host captain Saqib Ali’s rearguard 195 helped his side to a second innings total of 306 but Ireland lost just one wicket in knocking off the 61 runs required for victory.

Injury forced Ireland skipper Trent Johnston off the field in the UAE’s second innings and new vice-captain William Porterfield led the team to victory with 40 not out at the top of the second innings.

Twenty-three-year-old Porterfield said: “It was a very proud moment for me stepping over the line with the team. It’s always been an aspiration of mine to captain Ireland, and now it has come true.”

Ireland coach Phil Simmons praised Saqib Ali's mammoth innings of 195 © Getty Images

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“We went out on the last morning hoping to wrap things up in the first session,” said Porterfield.

“But it proved to be that bit tougher than we perhaps expected. Saqib batted really well and made things difficult for us. We stuck to our task and dug in, and eventually got our rewards.

“Thankfully, when (leg-spinner) Greg Thompson came on he did the business and got us two wickets in two balls.

“We always knew once we got one, the second and third would follow but we didn’t expect to get two in two balls. We knew if we kept pegging away that we’d get there. To get 20 wickets on this great track is a fine testimony to our attack,” he said.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons was a relieved man after seeing his side take longer than expected to collect the 20 points on offer.

“The main thing was to win the game and we achieved that. It was a good test for us ahead of our series in Bangladesh. It’s good for the bowlers to get overs under their belts out in the middle and we’ll benefit from this tough test by the UAE,” he said.

Simmons had a special word of praise for Saqib after his marathon innings.

“I thought it was a quite exceptional effort on his part,” said the former West Indies all-rounder.

“The amount of bowling he had to face as he protected the tail was incredible. He fully deserved a double hundred, but I don't like 200s being scored against us so I am not too upset.”