Ireland ensure USA remain winless

In the seventh place play-off semifinal in Harare, Ireland secured a comfortable six-wicket victory over the USA, who remained winless in the tournament.

USA, asked to bat first, lost two early wickets but recovered with an 88-run partnership between Saiteja Mukkamalla and Sushant Modani. However, Ireland fought back, taking quick wickets and slicing USA to 196 all out. Craig Young shone with three wickets.

In the chase, Ireland started well, thanks to Paul Stirling’s breezy fifty at the top and were helped by Andy Balbirnie’s 45* along the way as they chased the target with 15.4 overs to spare.

Brief scores:

USA 196 in 42.4 overs (Mukkamalla 55, Modani 55; Young 3-35) lost to Ireland 197/4 in 34.2 overs (Stirling 58; Nosthush Kenjige 2-41) by 6 wickets