Day 2

On his debut as captain Trent Johnston took five wickets for just 33 runs as the United Arab Emirates crumbled under severe Irish pressure in the semi-final of the Inter-Continental Cup in Windhoek today.

Coming on to bowl yesterday morning after Adrian McCoubrey had failed to make an impression, Johnston quickly got into his stride, putting the ball on the perfect line and length. Helped by a little away swing through the air, the Clontarf all-rounder rattled through the UAE lower order, leaving them still 161 runs short of Irelands impressive first innings total of 350.

The Irish then batted the UAE into submission with Jeremy Bray and Niall OBrien both scoring fine centuries. The two left-handers put on an unbeaten 269 runs for the second wicket, an all-time Irish record and Bray will have the chance this morning to become the highest-ever scoring Irishman if he can pass 198 set by Ivan Anderson in 1973.

Such is the complicated points system, even if Ireland only draw this match, they will now still progress through to Thursdays final.

"I was very happy with how we performed as a team today," said captain Johnston at the close of play. When bowling, he decided to come off his shorter run-up rather than steaming in at full pace in the hot Namibian sunshine. "What's the use in me charging off 25 steps out there? I just thought that if I can get it in the right areas, with the ball swinging around, it would be more beneficial to the team," he said.

With an eye on the final and the need to keep bowlers fresh, Johnston says he would be now happy with a draw as he has so many bonus points in the bag that only a highly unlikely defeat could stop the Irish.

"There's no point risking our bowlers by declaring too early just because we want to win outright. Our aim coming into this match was getting to the final and that is what we intend to do, he said.

While Johnston was undoubtedly the pick of Ireland's bowlers yesterday, Kyle McCallan (2-23) also performed well on a pitch that is not really turning. Greg Thompson, too, bowled well at times and even managed to bowl their opening batsman Mohammed Taskeen around his legs, a classic leg-spinner's dismissal. And the overall standard of ground fielding was first class.

When it was Ireland's turn to bat again, they showed no mercy with Bray and O'Brien making it a long day for the UAE. Play will resume on the final morning with Ireland a massive 467 runs ahead and still with nine wickets in hand. They are as good as in the final already.

Day 1

Day One report

By James Fitzgerald

A maiden first-class century for Eoin Morgan helped Ireland establish a strong position on day one of their Inter-Continental Cup semi-final against United Arab Emirates in Wanderers CC, Windhoek.

The 19-year-old Dubliner played with immense composure, displaying a full range of shots on his way to a magnificent 151 off just 150 balls in temperatures pushing 40 degrees out in the middle. Batting up the order at number three in the absence of the injured Andre Botha, Morgan staked his claim for a permanent move to that position, looking entirely at ease at this level. This knock will have done his chances no harm at his county Middlesex as he seeks a place in the first team alongside that other great Dublin left-hander Ed Joyce.

Apart from the punishing heat, however, conditions were all in Morgan's favour. Skipper Trent Johnston won the toss and decided to bat on a hard, flat wicket that offers little for the bowlers. Dom Joyce, "Ed's brother", and Jeremy Bray gave Ireland the ideal start, putting on 111 before Joyce miss-hit a short ball into the hands of Samir at square leg. The middle order failed to impress for the Irish but Johnston at six stuck around and shared a 94-run partnership with Morgan to make sure his side reached a more-than-respectable 350 for 7 declared.

The UAE used no fewer than nine bowlers but none as good as their opener Ali Asad. The fast-medium bowler laboured through 28 overs, taking five wickets for 93, far and away the pick of the Emirates attack.

With the batters' job done, Paul Mooney then emerged from the pavilion and took two wickets in his first over to raise Irelands spirits even further. The UAE rallied somewhat but two late wickets left Ireland firmly on top with the Emirates closing on 77 for 4.

In the other semi-final, Kenya look to have set themselves up nicely for victory, scoring 403 for 6 with Steve Tikolo plundering 220 off 233 balls against Bermuda. The final will be played here at the Wanderers club on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.