Ireland marched into the final of the World T20 Qualifying Tournament today in Abu Dhabi with a comprehensive win over UAE by 62 runs.

Ireland won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first as they have done in every match of the Tournament. This was also the first game to be played under floodlights.

In their group match against UAE Ireland scrambled home in the final over thanks to a great last over by Trent Johnston. Today after eight overs of their innings it looked as if it was headed for yet another tight finish as Ireland struggled to 42 for 4 wickets.

The UAE bowlers took pace off the ball as the batsmen couldn't find the timing that has been a feature of their batting throughout the Tournament.

William Porterfield mishit a shot to cover to be dismissed for 7 and although Paul Stirling and James Shannon seemed to rebuilding the innings both fell within seven balls. Shannon was plumb LBW for seven to be followed in the next over by Stirling who was bowled swinging across the line. Stirling made 17 with 4 fours, three of which were the result of very poor fielding by UAE.

Two overs later Gary Wilson mistimed a reverse sweep and gave a simple catch to short fine leg for just 3 runs with the score on 42. Kevin O'Brien and John Mooney brought Ireland back into the game with a controlled partnership of 41 in six overs.

However with the score on 68 Mooney was very fortunate to survive a LBW decision that looked out live and even more out on the TV replay. The score had moved to 83 when O'Brien fell LBW for 31 off 25 balls with 2 fours and a superb 6 over mid-wicket.

The arrival of Trent Johnston to the wicket changed the course of the match. He and Mooney added fifty in just five overs with Johnston producing a magnificent cameo. In the 18th over he went 6-4-4-4 off the first four balls and UAE heads went down.

Johnston was bowled for 35 having faced 18 balls. The innings of Mooney should not be underestimated as his 29 held it all together as the Ireland innings closed on 147 for 8 wickets.

Guruge with 3 for 21 and Mustafa 2 for 23 where the standout bowlers for the UAE.

UAE would have felt that they had a fair chance of chasing down Ireland's total but soon discovered that if you give Ireland a second chance you invariably pay the price. It what surely must be the best opening bowling spell of the Tournament Max Sorensen ripped the heart out of the UAE innings.

Bowling with pace and aggression he had the batsmen on the back foot from ball one. Cusack caught Azam with a smart catch at mid-on and then with the score on 26 Sorensen effectively ended UAE's hopes. He smashed Shaiman's stumps and three balls later produced a lethal in swinger to have captain and key batsmen Khurram Khan plumb LBW.

He was rested for a couple of overs but with the score on 45 returned to take his fourth wicket. He finished with a magnificent 4 for 15 off his four overs.

Tim Murtagh had an expensive first over at the start of the innings but returned to blow away the UAE tail finishing with figures of 4 for 25, including wickets in successive balls.

This is the first time Ireland have had two bowlers with four wicket hauls in the same T20 innings. Kevin O'Brien also chipped in with a wicket and Stirling wrapped up the match when Gary Wilson had a smart stumping as UAE capitulated for 85, their lowest score in this form of the game.

Not surprisingly Max Sorensen was named man of the match. Ireland now face Afghanistan in tomorrow's final. T

The Afghans had an equally comfortable win today over Nepal. Let's hope that tomorrow's final is as scintillating as the previous one in 2012, and of course has the same outcome.