Ireland cricketers celebrate their victory over the UAE in the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool B match – AFP photo

Nirapad News : Ireland beat UAE in group stage World Cup match at Brisbane by two wickets in their Pool B match at Brisbane’s Gabba ground on Wednesday.

Ireland won the toss and elected to field first.

Shaiman Anwar made the first hundred in the World Cup by a United Arab Emirates batsman as the amateurs from the Middle East recovered to 278 for nine against Ireland.

Gary Wilson struck 80 from 69 balls in a defiant late innings to help Ireland edge the United Arab Emirates by two wickets Wednesday in a World Cup match that was in the balance until the last over.

In the unfamiliar position of being favourite in a World Cup match following its opening upset win over the West Indies, Ireland won the toss, sent the UAE in to bat and had them in trouble at 78-4 before Shaiman Anwar came to the rescue with 107 to lift the total to 278-9.

The Irish never appeared comfortable in reply after losing Paul Stirling (3) in the second over, eventually sneaking over the line with a little bit of luck and some key contributions from Wilson and Kevin O’Brien (50).