UAE crush Ireland to set T20 World Cup seedings

A brilliant century from United Arab Emirates opener Muhammad Waseem helped power his side to a seven-wicket win over Ireland in the final of T20 World Cup qualifier A.

Both sides had already secured passage to the T20 World Cup tournament in Australia in October, while this result puts the UAE into Group 1 of the first round alongside Sri Lanka and Namibia.

Ireland join West Indies and Scotland in Group 2 of the first round, and both groups will be joined by one more team from the Qualifier B event to be held in June in Zimbabwe.

Waseem, who had also torched Ireland for a century last October, laced seven fours and eight sixes in his 66-ball knock of 112.

"This side is special. We have gelled over the past six months and it was really hurtful when the World Cup was happening back home and we weren't a part of it," UAE captain Ahmed Raza said, referring to last November's T20 World Cup that Australia won.

"We spoke about not letting such an opportunity pass us by. The players showed a lot of character throughout the tournament.

"Different players put their hands up when the chips were down and today it was Waseem."

It was the UAE's fifth successive win against Ireland since last October in Dubai.

Harry Tector struck a half-century after Ireland were reduced to 3-19 in the fourth over after Ireland openers Paul Stirling and skipper Andrew Balbirnie failed for the second match in succession.

Basil Hameed's first ball of the match shattered the stumps of Irish captain Andy McBrine and an over Ireland were in real trouble with 6-67.

Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy added 26 off two overs but Ireland were all out for 159 in the final over.

The UAE chase stuttered as Joshua Little removed Chirag Suri and player-of-the-tournament Vriitya Aravind in a space of three balls.

Aravind's prize wicket raised Irish hopes as the 19-year-old had been in prolific form. Despite the golden duck, Aravind finished as the tournament's highest run-getter with 267.

Waseem's ton stamped him as a player to watch in Australia later this year and along with experienced allrounder Rohan Mustafa (37 not out), the pair took Ireland's bowlers to the cleaners with some clean hitting around the park.

Their 141-run stand ended when Waseem departed in the 18th over with UAE needing just six off 12, and they reached the target with eight balls to spare.

Ireland captain Balbirnie said: "We are really happy to have qualified and are looking forward to going to Australia. A really nice place to play cricket, a few of us have been before. We have a lot to do before that so we are excited for that challenge and for the big summer ahead."

Men's T20 World Cup 2022

First round

Group A: Sri Lanka, Namibia, UAE, a qualifier

Group B: West Indies, Scotland, Ireland, a qualifier

Super 12 stage

Group 1: Australia, Afghanistan, England, New Zealand, A1, B2

Group 2: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, B1, A2

Australia's T20 World Cup 2022 fixtures

Oct 22: v New Zealand, SCG, 6pm AEDT

Oct 25: v 1A, Optus Stadium, 10pm AEDT

Oct 28: v England, MCG, 7pm AEDT

Oct 31: v 2B, Gabba, 7pm AEDT

Nov 4: v Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Semi-finals

Nov 9: SCG, 7pm AEDT

Nov 10: Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Final

Nov 13: MCG, 7pm AEDT