Ireland on course for hat-trick

Former Ireland captain Trent Johnston is on course to get his hands on the cup again

Two-time defending champions Ireland will play Namibia in the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup after beating Kenya by an innings and 65 runs in Nairobi today.

Coach Phil Simmons’ side secured the maximum points they needed to secure a berth in the final which will take place at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, from October 30 to November 3.

The visitors were made to sweat for their victory as Kenya entered the final hour of the match eight wickets down. However, seamer Andre Botha and left-arm slow bowler Regan West struck to complete the win with 20 minutes to spare.

Had Kenya held on for another 7.2 overs, they would have reached the final in place of Ireland.

They battled to 327 all out with 18-year-old debutant Seren Waters top-scoring with 75. He was well-supported by ICC associate ODI player of the year 2007 Thomas Odoyo, who lasted 168 balls for his 61 runs.

The hosts had been dismissed for just 186 in the first innings after Ireland’s mammoth effort of 576 for four declared.

It was a nail-biting finish to the group stage of the competition with West, Kyle McCallan and Trent Johnston bowling 100.4 of the 135.4 overs in Kenya’s second innings.

West finished with 3-81 from 42.4 overs. Johnston registered the best figures of the innings with 4-43 from 21 overs, including the wickets of the top four Kenya batsmen.

Former West Indies all-rounder Simmons, 45, said: “Things are great.”

“We still had it all to do in the second innings because it was a good track and Kenya batted very well the second time around. But our bowlers did really well to keep probing in the right areas and it paid off in the end.

“The pitch did take a bit of spin so it was always going to be up to West and McCallan to do the lion’s share of the bowling because they were getting it to turn. And I thought they did really well.”

Phil Simmons was delighted to see his Ireland side reach the ICC Intercontinental Cup final

After a period of uncertainty due to work commitments, former captain Johnston made himself available for this tour and his four wickets in the second innings proved vital.

“Trent is a great player for us and has been for a long time,” added Simmons.

“His experience really came through today and he showed the younger pace bowlers how you need to adapt as a seamer if you are to be successful on different types of wicket and in different conditions. It is great that he’s back in the team again.”

Looking forward to the final, defending champions Ireland - unbeaten in this competition since 2004 - are favourites to take their third title in a row.

“I think that’s fair. We have beaten Namibia in Namibia and Kenya in Kenya so that gives us confidence. But the final is a one-off game and anything can happen so we won’t be going to PE thinking we only have to show up to win it.

“It’s going to be a tough game and we will have to work hard if we are going to take the cup home to Ireland again.”

Skipper William Porterfield was delighted with the manner of the win saying: “That was right up there in terms of performance with our fightback win over Namibia last week. It was a different type of pressure this time around.

“We batted superbly to post such a huge total and were able to set attacking fields and experiment from then on. I thought the bowlers stuck to their task, and it was good for me to have so many options, offering a different kind of challenge to the Kenyan batsmen.

“They made it tough for us, but we got there, and we’re all justifiably proud of our achievements. I don’t think many teams could have won away from home twice in African conditions with so much at stake.”

Vice-captain Kyle McCallan added: “That was some result on a wicket that gave the bowlers very little help. Strangely enough, it played better in the second innings than it did in the first.

“It was certainly a very tiring few days for us in the field, but the result makes it all worthwhile. I’m looking forward to playing in another final.”

ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 table: