Ireland beaten by UAE in T20 World Cup Qualifier final

Ireland fell to defeat against the UAE in the final of the men's T20 World Cup Qualifier on Thursday, but they can be satisfied that their primary mission to qualify for the 2022 tournament was achieved this week at the Al Almerat Stadium.

It was the Muhammad Waseem show as the UAE opener plundered his second T20I career century - both against Ireland.

Waseem's 112 came from just 66 balls, as he led the Emerati side to a comfortable seven-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.

For the Irish bowlers it was slim pickings, with the best return being the paceman Josh Little, who took 2-17 from his four overs.

Given today’s result, Ireland will enter the first-round group stage of the ICC T20 World Cup in October, facing West Indies, Scotland and one further qualifier [TBC in June] in Group B.

Two from that group will move to the Super 12s stage of the tournament.

"We’re disappointed, but UAE were probably the best side in the tournament, so congratulations to Ahmed and his squad for the week," skipper Andrew Balbirnie said afterwards.

"We had a good powerplay with the ball today, but when someone scores a century striking at nearly 200 it’s hard to stop. That was the difference.

"There’s a lot of pleasing aspects of how the week has gone. We obviously qualified for the World Cup, which was the main aim. When you play a final you want to win the trophy, but the best side won."