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With the squad having a hard-earned day off from training in Canberra yesterday, www.cricketireland.ie caught up with one of the stars with the bat from the win over the UAE, Kevin O’Brien to talk about the match…and nearly losing his record to AB de Villiers.
With the squad having a hard-earned day off from training in Canberra yesterday, www.cricketireland.ie caught up with one of the stars with the bat from the win over the UAE, Kevin O’Brien to talk about the match…and nearly losing his record to AB de Villiers.
For the neutral observer Ireland’s clash with the UAE was a game that had it all – runs, wickets and plenty of drama. But for the Blarney Army it was a roller coaster, that ultimately ended in elation as George Dockrell hit the winning runs over the head of extra-cover to see Ireland home with just four balls to spare.

After a solid start with the ball for Ireand, the UAE batsmen put the Irish bowlers to the sword in the closing overs going from 131-6 after 35 overs to finish 276-9; and with the Ireland response faltering early with the loss of Paul Stirling in the second over, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Boys in Green as O’Brien points out.

“I think give credit to the UAE first. I think that batted very well in the second half of the innings, and bowled very well in our first 25 overs, so I think all credit has to go to them the way they fought for the two points”.

Along with man of the match Gary Wilson, O’Brien was central to Ireland’s run-chase, and his characteristically big-hitting half century from just 25 deliveries helped Ireland up the ante as the required run rate crept over 10 an over.

“It was pretty simple scenario we needed 100 off 11 overs or so, I couldn’t really take too much time to get in. I think second ball I got a short one and I pulled it away to the boundary and that kind of got me going so I never looked back after that.

“Myself and Gary looked to try and take the impetus from the game and we got us close to the line but unfortunately couldn’t be there at the end.”

O’Brien feels the Ireland batting line up is in good shape heading into Tuesday’s encounter with an in-form South Africa: “I think the batting unit is in good form with everyone getting a score in the first two games, so we’re looking forward to Tuesday’s game”.

On the bowling side, still work to do but O’Brien is confident that this can be addressed in time for the Canberra encounter: “Of course a few things to work on with the ball, most notably in the death and the powerplays, but we’ve talked as a bowling group on what we need to address; we’ve got three days now before Tuesday’s game.”

There are very few bowlers in world cricket who would be relishing the thought of bowling to South African captain AB de Villiers at the moment – his 162 from 66 balls against the West Indies on Friday broke all kinds of records. But one record remained intact – Kevin O’Brien’s fastest ever World Cup hundred, which de Villiers missed by two deliveries.

“I was having a little afternoon nap and I woke up and he was on 78 off 41 or something like that and I thought ‘Oh No!’…thankfully he slowed up towards the end and didn’t quite make it!”

Tuesday’s show-down with South Africa is certain to have plenty of fireworks – you can follow all the action LIVE on www.cricketireland.ie when play gets underway at 3.30am. Don’t forget to show your support by tweeting @Irelandcricket using the hashtag #BackingGreen.

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