In a thrilling final in Dubai on Saturday evening a magnificent 79 from Paul Stirling ensured that Ireland won the Twenty20 qualifier.

Paul Stirling rocketed Ireland to the Twenty20 World Cup finals in Sri Lanka with as fine an exhibition of strokeplay ever produced by an Irish cricketer.

Ireland brilliantly breezed their way into the Twenty20 World Cup finals on a super Saturday here in Dubai and did no harm to their lofty ambition of becoming a Test country by 2020.

They then went one better by winning the whole tournament by beating Afghanistan by five wickets in the final proper in the afternoon.

The Ireland squad returned to Dublin Airport this afternoon with the World Twenty20 Qualifying trophy and a place in the finals in Sri Lanka in September.

The sky is the limit for Irish batsman Paul Stirling after his amazing innings won the World Twenty20 qualifier final for Ireland.

An overwhelming victory over Namibia on Saturday morning took Ireland into the tournament final against Afghanistan and - even more important - gained them the second qualification place in the World T20 championship in September.

Any fears that the tournament final would be an anti-climax were shown to be nonsense as a classic contest was served up.

Scotland's World Twenty20 qualifying campaign concluded yesterday with a thrilling last-ball victory over Canada at the Dubai International Stadium.

Kevin O'Brien took his three pound hammer to the Dutch yesterday, as Ireland cruised into a playoff with Namibia for a place in the ICC World Twenty20 finals.

A disciplined Irish performance in the field restricted the Dutch to 114 despite a fine 56 from Alexei Kervezee, and took them to a convincing seven-wicket victory.

Ireland go marching on and are just one win away from the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

A round-up of the matches to decide 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th place in the UAE.

Ireland are one game away from the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, after a convincing seven wicket win over the Netherlands on Friday morning.

Paul Stirling reclaimed his fastest fifty record in Dubai as Ireland thrashed Canada by 10 wickets

Scotland's World Cup dream died in the desert when the multi-national Netherlands carved out a three-wicket win.

Ireland stormed through their first game in the sudden death phase with an easy ten wicket win over Canada.

Spearheaded by Dawlat Zadran, Afghanistan's quick bowled ripped through Namibia's batting on Thursday to secure one of the two qualification places in the World T20 championship.

In a seesawing battle at the Global Cricket Academy the Netherlands beat Scotland by three wickets on Thursday, with Man of the Match Tom Cooper making a 32-ball 60.

PAUL Stirling scored Ireland's fastest ever 50 as Ireland annihilated Canada to reach the semi final of the World Twenty20 qualifying tournament.

A round-up of today's action in the ranking play-offs from the UAE.

The Event Technical Committee has approved Tim Murtagh to replace the injured Alex Cusack in the Ireland squad.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons has sent for Middlesex bowler Tim Murtagh as concern mounted over the fitness of Alex Cusack.

Tim Murtagh arrived in Dubai early this morning as cover for Alex Cusack as Ireland's injury woes at the World Twenty20 Qualifiers intensified.

After a largely predictable group phase and a remarkable final day, six sides will battle for the two available places in Sri Lanka when the play-offs start on Thursday.

IT was nail-biting stuff and not the triumphant march to the play-offs that Scotland had wanted.

Gary Wilson's first 20-20 fifty for Ireland ensured they go into the Top Six phase of the ICC World Qualifier on a six game winning streak.

Afghanistan and Namibia remain unbeaten and will meet in Thursday's first qualification final, whilst Canada secure their spot in the play-offs for qualification.

It was the calm before the storm as Ireland completed a straightforward victory over Oman in their final Group B match at the World Twenty20 qualifiers in Abu Dhabi this morning.

The Netherlands became the first team to pass 200 as they hammered Hong Kong by 83 runs in Sharjah on Tuesday and clinch second place in their group.

Ireland defeated Uganda by 82 runs to record their biggest T20 win since their very first, against Bangladesh A in 2008.

Scotland produced an efficient performance to keep alive their hopes of T20 World Cup qualification with victory over Italy at the Global Cricket Academy, Dubai, yesterday.

Ireland wrapped up its biggest twenty20 victory ever to put them in the playoff stages of this World Cup qualifier.

IRELAND reached the play- offs of the World Twenty20 qualifiers with an 82-run victory over Uganda in Dubai yesterday but again decided against calling up Tim Murtagh for the final stages of the tournament.

Afghanistan and Namibia all but ensure that they will play-off for a place in the World Twenty20 on Thursday, whilst Canada come close to securing their play-off place. Elsewhere, Bermuda gain their first win and the USA are thrashed by Kenya.

A six-wicket victory over Nepal, built on a much-improved bowling performance, ensured that the Dutch would finish in the top three of their group - and in all probability second.

Injuries to John Mooney and Alex Cusack mar Ireland's 17 run win against Scotland.

ICC confirm replacements for Afghanistan and Ireland.

IRELAND have called up Andrew Poynter as a replacement for John Mooney after the Ireland all-rounder was ruled out of the rest of the World Twenty20 qualifiers in the UAE with a torn hamstring.

SCOTLAND's World Twenty20 qualification hopes were hanging by a thread last night after they fell to defeat against Ireland at the Dubai International Stadium.

Ed Joyce hit a top quality 78 not out to set up a 17-run victory over Scotland in Dubai yesterday that keeps Ireland firmly on course for the play-offs of the World Twenty20 qualifiers.

The North County all-rounder suffered a torn hamstring during Ireland's 17 run win against Scotland today in Dubai.

The attack may not yet have struck top form, but Myburgh, Swart and Cooper saw the Netherlands to a nine-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

A fine all-round performance from Samiullah Shenwari gives Afghanistan a win over Canada, remaining unbeaten along with Namibia. The USA get off the mark and there are also wins for Hong Kong, Italy and Nepal.

Boyd Rankin claimed his third man-of-the-match award in as many games as Ireland swept past the USA by 64 runs in the World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai.

Denmark's James Moniz, who made his debut against Bermuda earlier this week, has Bermudian roots.

A superb maiden international century from Calum MacLeod helped Scotland ease to victory against Oman.

The giant Warwickshire paceman won his third consecutive man of the match award as Ireland defeated the USA by 64 runs.

The Ireland seamer demolished the USA in a brutal display of fast bowling as he recorded personal best figures for the third successive match.

The Netherlands' 7-wicket win over Denmark on Friday was an improved performance, but some questions remain as the tournament completes its first week.

PNG sneak past Hong Kong in an exciting finish, whilst Afghanistan and Namibia remain unbeaten, Kenya get off the mark, and Canada beat Bermuda.

Michael Swart starred with bat and ball, but Bermuda fought to the end as the Orange Lions won by just 4 runs in a low-scoring game.

Scotland got their World Twenty20 qualifying bid back on track with victory over Uganda in Dubai.

Gary Wilson rescued Ireland yesterday with two boundaries in the final over to secure a two-wicket victory over Italy with two balls to spare in a tense

They duly picked up their second win of the T20 qualifiers this morning with victory over Italy in Abu Dhabi, but they limped over the line with only two wickets and two balls to spare.

Day three in the UAE sees Papua New Guinea and Kenya record their first wins, but the USA and Oman remain winless. Scotland, Afghanistan and Canada also win.

Gary Wilson made an unbeaten 31 as Ireland struggled to suppress a competitive Italy side at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Half-centuries by Alexei Kervezee and Mohammad Shahzad were the highlights of Wednesday's top Group A clash, but it was the Afghans who prevailed with two balls to spare.

Scotland's T20 World Cup qualification hopes received a dent when they slumped to a heavy defeat at the hands of Namibia in Abu Dhabi.

William Porterfield scored the fastest half-century ever by an Ireland batsman yesterday as his side raced to a crushing 10-wicket victory over Kenya

Day two in the UAE sees some matches go down to the wire, whilst others are one-sided contests.

They dismiss the Africans for just 71, and then William Porterfield scored Ireland's fastest fifty ever to win in the eighth over.

IRELAND continue to have the hex over Kenya. Following a 3-0 series victory in Mombasa last month, Ireland got their tournament up and running with an emphatic 10 wickets success this morning.

Ireland lost their opening match in the World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai yesterday to Namibia by four runs.

A cameo innings and two wickets in one over by the Dutch allrounder ensured that his side registered a 42-run victory in their opening match on Tuesday.

Scotland opened their World Twenty20 qualifying campaign with the win they wanted when they edged out Kenya by 14 runs in Dubai yesterday.

Afghanistan, Denmark, Italy and Nepal cruise to straightforward wins, whilst Uganda and Scotland don't have things all their own way.

National Coach Phil Simmons has set Ireland a target of winning their next six group games, starting against Kenya this morning.

IRELAND can afford no slip ups today against Kenya after losing the opening match of their World Twenty20 qualifying campaign to Namibia by an agonisingly close four runs in Dubai.

Second seeds Ireland went down to Namibia by 4 runs in a thrilling encounter in Dubai.

Scotland's top order made a blistering start to the tournament and launched their side to defeat Kenya by 14 runs.

Scotland's last trip to the UAE for a World Twenty20 qualifying tournament turned out to be a watershed week.

Phil Simmons tips Ireland's opening batsman Paul Stirling to have a ìbig impactî on the World Twenty20 qualifier.

George Dockrell will be at the spearhead of Ireland's bid to reach the finals of the World Twenty20 when the qualifying tournament gets underway today in Dubai.

Fancied teams are unlikely to have things all their way in a Group B competition which promises plenty of thrills and spills on the way to the play-offs.

Fraser Watts receives one suspension point and an official reprimand for ICC Code of Conduct breaches - Khurram Khan also receives reprimand.

Davey felt a recurrence of a knee injury during Wednesday's defeat against UAE, and is replaced by reserve wicket-keeper Simon Smith.

Group A may look like the easier of the two pools but there will nevertheless be plenty of banana skins for the more fancied teams.

Canada's new captain is confident of starting his tenure by helping his side become one of the two sides to qualify.

Uganda skipper Davis Arinaitwe believes that the current Africa Twenty20 champions have the potential to cause some upsets.

Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal is hoping that the return of coach Kabir Khan will act as a motivation for his side.

Nepal captain Paras Khadka admits that to qualify for Sri Lanka would be the biggest achievement in Nepalese sporting history

The last three days of the World Twenty20 Qualifier will be shown live by ESPN STAR Sports.

Scotland captain Gordon Drummond says the side's never say die attitude is one of the attributes which will help the side to excel.

Denmark is bubbling with confidence as it arrives in Dubai next week to participate in the T20 Qualifier.

Hong Kong qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012 by virtue of finishing in the top four of the regional Twenty20 qualifier for in Asia which was held in Nepal at the end of last year.

Ireland lose to Eastern Province by 21 runs in their final T20 WCQ warm-up game.

Life has gone full circle for Calum MacLeod during his winter abroad.

Ireland captain William Porterfield is confident his side can build on the recent good form to be one of the two sides to qualify.

Namibia has a new captain in the form of Sarel Burger and the 29-year-old is dreaming of leading the side to victory.

Oman captain Hemal Mehta is confident that his side will spring a surprise by becoming one of the two sides to qualify.

Paul Stirling and Gary Wilson lead Ireland to easy win against Eastern Province Invitational XI.

It is just over a year since Ireland's Kevin O'Brien slammed a breathtaking century to help defeat England in the 2011 World Cup.

Dutch captain Peter Borren says his side is aiming for nothing less than winning the tournament.

Italy captain Alessandro Bonora is banking on the international experience of Michael Di Venuto to be one of the two sides to qualify from the T20 WCQ.

All eyes will be on the USA as it is led for the first time by 35-year-old Sushil Nadkarni.

Papua New Guinea captain Rarua Dikana is hoping former England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones will play a huge part in his side becoming one of the two qualifiers.

Bermuda skipper David Hemp is excited about this side's trip to the UAE for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

Kenya captain Collins Obuya believes his side is a forced to be reckoned with despite the ups and downs in its performances.

Final squads are confirmed for the qualifiers which will be held in UAE from March 13-24.

16 teams will battle it out in the UAE from 13 to 24 March for the two available slots in the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.