Porterfield Happy With Proper Workout for Whole Squad Ahead of Crucial Zimbabwe Game on St Patrick's Day

Ireland Captain William Porterfield was delighted with Ireland's keenly contested victory over Nepal.

Ireland were set a total of 137 by Nepal, on a tricky wicket, with Andy McBrine taking 2 for 22 at 5.5 in his four overs and George Dockrell 2 for 31. Ireland eventually chased down the score in the first ball of the final over.

Ireland had good contributions from Porterfield 38, Stirling 19, Poynter 28. However, most telling ones came from Gary Wilson 31 not out and Stuart Thompson 19 not out from 9 balls who guided Ireland safely home.

Porterfield now turns his thoughts to a more than friendly `warm up' game with Bangladesh and the vital first match of the tournament proper against Zimbabwe.

Barry Chambers: William pretty satisfying to get the win, but it was nerve wrecking at times there?

William Porterfield: I think it was obviously nice to get the win there, and it was a good run out for the lads. And taking it down to the last over, so it gave us a good game. And put us in a good position, needing in and around ten an over for the last couple. You might say it shouldn't have got to that, we just may have slowed up a bit.

At the half way point we were bang on, we were just over half the runs, two down, and I think in the next couple of overs we obviously lost that wicket and we slowed down there. And if anything we could have picked it up then. So no it was good that the lads got down there, and obviously `Wils' (Gary Wilson) seeing it home there and `Thommo' (Stuart Thompson) at the end as well, was pleasing.

Barry Chambers:It's good to have a few guys contributing. Ed Joyce who has scored a few runs, didn't do it today and Kevin O'Brien didn't do it, but as you say, yourself, Paul Stirling, Andrew Poynter, Gary and Stuart, so five or six players getting a bit of a knock.

William Porterfield: Yeah Joycie has been in great form, a bit unfortunate the way he got out today, but those things happen. As you said there's a silver lining to everything, it's great that the lads got in there and saw us home. Obviously `Georgie' (George Dockrell) has been in a bit of nick for us over the last few Twenty20's. So it was just nice for other lads to step up, and it has been where we have been lacking. So for the batters to get time in the middle and see it home is another step forward to building up towards the 17th.

Barry Chambers: And happy enough with the bowlers, the spinners seemed to control it pretty well?

William Porterfield: Yeah I think the spinners bowled very well. Andy McBrine bowled very well and `Dockers' and `Stirlo' there as well. I think all the bowlers contributed, obviously Max only bowled two overs and Stuart Thompson only bowled one, but that's what we've got now, and that's where we're getting to and what we've potentially always had, is lads that batted and bowled.

But I think our options for out here are looking pretty strong, and it's going to give us a few selection headaches as well moving forward. There's obviously Alex Cusack who didn't play today who is one of our main men in this format as well. So it's a nice headache to have.

Barry Chambers: Now Bangladesh on Friday, but everything is gearing towards next week and that huge match on St Patrick's day against Zimbabwe.

William Porterfield: Yeah ultimately it is, but we've got a big game, like Bangladesh in their on their own turn are never going to be an easy team to come up against. So that's a great test for us, moving forward into the Zimbabwe game. So it's one we're going to not take lightly in any way, in terms of being a warm up game. We're treating it like a tournament game. So I expect it to be a good game of cricket and there's no better preparation for us moving forward to the 17th.

Barry Chambers: Well done.

William Porterfield: Thanks.