Canadian cricketers halt Ireland comeback to notch 1st-ever ICC Men's T20 World Cup win

Canada staved off an Irish comeback to record its first-ever win at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Friday, defeating Ireland by 12 runs to even its record at 1-1.

Rallying from a slow start, Ireland scored 51 runs in its last five overs as it chased a victory target of 138.

Needing 28 runs from the last two overs and then 17 from the last six balls, it managed just four off Jeremy Gordon in the final over, setting off a Canadian celebration.

The 23rd-ranked Canadians sit third in a wide-open Group A behind the United States (2-0) and India (1-0) and ahead of Pakistan (0-1) and Ireland (0-2).

The top two sides will advance to the Super-8 stage.

"A proud moment for me and my team," said Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar.

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Canada, one of three debutants at the 20-country tournament along with the co-host U.S. and Uganda, takes on No. 6 Pakistan at the same venue on Tuesday.

The Canadians were put to bat by the 11th-ranked Irish in 27 C heat that felt like 33 C for the late-morning start before an announced crowd of 5,153 at the 34,000-capacity Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

Canada finished at 137 for seven — the highest score in the three matches at the venue to date — with Nicholas Kirton (49 runs) and Shreyas Movva (37) steadying the ship after Canadian openers Aaron Johnson and Navneet Dhaliwal exited on 14 and six runs, respectively.

The Canadian bowlers then went to work, backed by first-rate fielding.

Ireland scored 31 runs at the expense of one wicket in its first six overs and then lost five more wickets for 31 runs in the next seven overs.

Canada dispatched Ireland's openers Andy Balbirnie and captain Paul Stirling for