Ireland beat Uganda to reach semi-final

Ireland Women duly recorded an emphatic 8-wicket against Uganda to top Group B and reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers at VRA in The Netherlands.

After a delayed start, Irish skipper Laura Delany had no hesitation in inserting Uganda after winning yet another toss.

Uganda had no answer to the accuracy and parsimony of the Irish bowling unit, struggling to gain any momentum to their innings.

Experienced leg-spinner Ciara Metcalfe was the destroyer-in-chief, taking 3 for 8 off a miserly four over spell which contained an incredible 20 dot balls. There was also a memorable landmark for Metcalfe as she claimed her 100th wicket for Ireland - the second player to do so after Isobel Joyce.

Off-spinner Eimear Richardson picked up two, while teenager Lara Maritz claimed her first T20I wicket and Kim Garth continued her comeback from a stress fracture in her back to pick up her first wicket of 2018.

Clare Shillington took two catches, including one incredible effort which showcased her sharp reflexes , clinging on to one at short cover.

Uganda finished their innings on a very modest 78-8 from their 20 overs.

The well below par total was never likely to cause the Irish any trouble, and so it proved with Clare Shillington, full of confidence after winning back-to back Player of the Match awards, once again top scoring with 27 from 21 balls (3 fours).

Shillington has now amassed 112 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 121.7, giving the Irish the perfect start in all three of their successful run chases..

Cecelia Joyce made a run-a-ball 15, in an opening stand of 31 in 26 balls, before Gaby Lewis (18*) and Laura Delany (13*) saw Ireland home comfortably with 7.5 overs to spare.

Ciara Metcalfe was not surprisingly named Player of the Match.

It's been a dominant team performance by the Irish thus far, with the batting, Ireland have only lost six wickets during three successful run chases, and with the bowling, no opponent has scored 100 or more against the Irish attack.