Porterfield a Yankee Doodle Dandy as Records Tumble During T20 World Cup Qualifier Against USA

Ireland's Captain and Opener William Porterfield hit a spectacular 127 not out from 67 balls with 12 fours and 5 huge sixes.

It was the first century by an Irish batsman in a Twenty20 International. He was ably assisted by Paul Stirling, 25 from 17 balls, Kevin O'Brien, 18 from 16 balls and John Mooney a crunching 32 not out from 13 balls striking at nearly 250% as Ireland amassed their highest T20 score of 216 in their allotted 20 overs.

They then bowled and fielded excellently, dismissing the USA for 141. A delighted Porterfield is now looking forward to doing battle with Italy, who ran Ireland very close the last time they played, however, Ireland will be taking nothing for granted and will once again be aiming to bring their A Game to the park.

Barry Chambers: William congratulations, the first Irish Centurion in T20 Cricket, and a very convincing win?

William Porterfield: Yes that's the most pleasing thing, is to obviously get a convincing win. We've had a couple of close ones over the last three games, so it's nice to come out and put in a comprehensive performance. You don't get many 70, 80 run victories in T20 Cricket, so that's pretty pleasing.

Barry Chambers: And you struck the ball pretty well from virtually the first or second over, you outscored Paul Stirling?

William Porterfield: It's not very often `Stirlo' gives me the strike, it's pretty much the other way around a lot of the time. So it's pretty pleasing to go out and strike it so cleanly. They've been pretty good decks here, very good decks in the stadium. So that was pleasing to go out and strike it so cleanly from the off. And to carry it through was nice as well.

Barry Chambers: Are you surprised they put you in, having won the toss?

William Porterfield: I don't think the deck was ever going to change too much. It obviously was used yesterday in a game, and we were going to look to have a bat on it. But I think it wasn't a massive decision whether you wanted to bat first or bowl first. Obviously runs on the board, if you can post a big total on a good deck, you still have to chase them down. So luckily we managed to put a bit total on the board, and restrict them to 140, it was pleasing.

Barry Chambers: And the result was really never in doubt, once you dismissed Stephen Taylor and Tim Allen, they looked like two guys who could clear the boundaries, but both well thought out dismissals.

William Porterfield: Yeah they obviously can strike a ball pretty cleanly, and there was a couple of big sixes there at the start. And that's going to happen in the power play. And I think once we seen the back end of the power play, from then on we kept pegging them back and taking wickets, and that was another pleasing thing. As you don't get 200 much in Twenty20 Cricket, as well as you don't get 10 wickets very often. So to do both in the same game was pleasing for ourselves.

Barry Chambers: And the Bowlers, Paul Stirling, George Dockrell in the middle overs did very well also?

William Porterfield: Yeah, they put a big squeeze on, that was another pleasing thing for us. We got a bit of a squeeze on, and rushed through a few overs there, and kept picking up wickets. I think they got five between them for not many. So that was pretty pleasing for ourselves. And obviously John Mooney got four overs under his belt, who hasn't bowled in the tournament yet. So it's great to have that in reserve. And you know when you give him the ball, you can call on him, and he can come on and do that job for you as well. So that's a pleasing thing for us as well.

Barry Chambers: And a big margin which really helps the run rate. It means now really you could afford a defeat, and I'm sure you want to win all seven games, but if there is a slip up, that could be crucial, that winning by so much?

William Porterfield: Yeah I think that was mentioned as well at the start of the day, if we get ourselves into a position where we can capitalise, then we've got to do that. I think that run rate is a big thing in this tournament, obviously there's been a lot of results that people may not have called from the start, and that can happen to anyone, and we've got to bring our A Game every time we come and play. And obviously we want to win seven out of seven, to win the group. But as you said, there's big performances in every team out here. So to get a big margin under your belt, was pleasing.

Barry Chambers: And Italy tomorrow, who gave us quite a scare here last year?

William Porterfield: Yeah the last time we played Italy we only knocked it off in the last over. I think we were only chasing about 100. So it was a tricky-ish deck with not a lot of bounce, and they bowled quite straight. So they did make it difficult for us, and we will not be taking them lightly this time around.