Afghanistan v Ireland, World T20 Qualifier final, Dubai

Stirling whirlwind takes Ireland to title

Ireland 156 for 5 (Stirling 79, Wilson 32) beat Afghanistan 152 for 7 (Shahzad 77, O'Brien 2-18) by five wickets 

DUBAI: Ireland beat Afghanistan by five wickets to claim the World Twenty20 qualifier final on Saturday. 

The victory came just hours after the Irish qualified for its third consecutive World Twenty20 with a nine-wicket victory over Namibia.

Afghanistan had also already qualified after beating Namibia on Thursday in a preliminary final.

Ireland and Afghanistan served up a blistering classic in the final of the World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai, putting to rest any fears that the game would be an anti-climax after both teams had already sealed their spot in the World Twenty20 to be held later this year. 

The final decided Ireland will play in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September in a group with Australia and West Indies. Afghanistan joins England and India. 

Led by 77 off 57 balls from Mohammad Shahzad, Afghanistan set a challenging 152-7. Ireland lost captain William Porterfield to a first-ball duck but eventually chased down the target with seven balls to spare, led by Paul Stirling’s 79 off 38 balls, including three sixes.