Canada lose nail-biter to Ireland
ICC
Peter Gillespie and Andrew White hit Ireland to victory in a tense ICC Trophy semi-final against Canada at Clontarf. With the run-rate mounting, Gillespie struck a six and a four from consecutive deliveries in the 48th over before White completed the win with a six from the second ball of the final over.
White, who was also at the crease when Ireland beat West Indies and Surrey, finished on 28 not out while man-of-the-match Gillespie was unbeaten on 64.
Canada were put in to bat and skipper John Davison began in his usual aggressive style. Stepping down the wicket from his first delivery, Davison tore into the opening overs from Trent Johnston and Paul Mooney. After surviving an inside edge and a slice through the slips, Davison's good fortune ran out when he was trapped leg before wicket for 33 in the fifth over.
Fellow opener Desmond Chumney and number three Zubin Surkari built on this platform to take Canada to 89 in 15 overs. But when Surkari was out for 31 with the score on 114 it precipitated a collapse. Two further wickets fell without a run being added - key batsman Ian Billcliff caught behind from his first delivery and Chumney clean bowled by Kyle McCallan for 35.
Ireland had the chances to further capitalise on this strong position but two dropped catches allowed Sunil Dhaniram and Pubudu Dassanayake to prosper. The pair put on 56 for the fifth wicket before Dhaniram was bowled for 35.
Ireland regained control in the final overs but Canada's total of 239 for nine was competitive in conditions conducive to swing.
Ireland's top order batsmen struggled for form in the group stage of the event and without the tournament's leading scorer Ed Joyce, who has returned to play County Cricket for Middlesex, the pressure was on to make a positive start.
Jeremy Bray failed to make a mark at his home club. He was out for 10 with the score on 12. Eoin Morgan followed 29 runs later for 20 and, though captain Jason Mollins made a personal tournament best of 44, Ireland were pegged back to 106 for five.
Trent Johnson led the Irish recovery but when he was caught in the deep for 44 to become Kevin Sander's third victim, Ireland were left needing a run a ball with only four wickets in hand.
To the relief of the enthusiastic crowd, Gillespie and White held their nerve to guide Ireland to a victory which leaves the tournament hosts on the verge of their greatest ever cricket achievement.