Day 1

Ireland were able to complete only half the job in their second World League game in Rotterdam yesterday after rain prevented a start to the Afghanistan innings. But captain Trent Johnston was happy to return for the second day when they will defend an above par total of 237 for nine, topped by an international career best 77 from Andrew Poynter.

The Clontarf batsman was recalled for this tournament only because of the unavailability of the county professionals but he showed National Coach Phil Simmons what he has been missing with a innings of great maturity. He needed a little luck but after a year in the wilderness - he was not selected for the World Twenty20 in England last summer - who could deny him it. Dropped on 15 and 60 - just two of five straightforward catches which the Afghans missed - he has the talent and tenacity to build on this innings and it augurs well for the future of Ireland's middle order.

Alex Cusack gets a leading edge and is dismissed

The 23 year old Clontarf batsman hit half a dozen fours and a six in his 109-ball innings and was only upstaged by Trent Johnston who hammered an unbeaten 42 off just 28 balls, including the two biggest sixes of the day. The fast scoring finale was just what was needed because it was the Afghanistan bowlers who ruled for the first 30 overs. Indeed, Ireland scored just 106 in that period but after losing their top three for 27, consolidation was required.

Kevin O'Brien with a solid 44, including just five boundaries, did that job to a tee before Andrew White and Johnston teed off to leave the bowlers reeling. White, on his 30th birthday, also enjoyed the present of a dropped catch to score 31 off 35 but the most expensive of the chances was probably the one off Johnston, when the captain was on just 18. Late order runs by Johnston, especially in the one-day arena, have been something of a rarity - his unbeaten 42 from 28 balls was his best score since a unbeaten half century against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl three years ago - but it was his impetus that saw Ireland charge to the finish line with 78 off the last 10 overs including 41 off their batting powerplay and make up for the disappointing start.

Paul Stirling, Ireland's man of the match - although he didn't get the award - with 87 in Thursday's opening win against Kenya, charged down the pitch and was bowled in the fourth over, Alex Cusack, dropped before he had scored, struggled for 17 balls and was then caught off the leading edge and James Hall was caught behind off the impressive left arm pace man Shahpoor. Ireland went into the game with an unchanged team but only time will tell whether it was right to go in with Nigel Jones, as an extra medium pacer, in preference to Albert van der Merwe, The Hills' off spinner who is still waiting to make his ODI debut.

Reverse sweep by Andy White

An Ireland victory would set up a top of the table clash against Scotland, the only team to have won two matches so far, and Johnston's side will then be confident of overcoming Canada and the Netherlands. They are still very much the holders of the World Cricket League and a second win, in six matches, against Afghanistan is much overdue.

Day 2

Who needs the county professionals? Ireland ended their losing run against Afghanistan with five of their first choice side missing, winning the World League clash at VOC Rotterdam by 39 runs.

It keeps Trent Johnston's side on course to retain their title and victory over Scotland - the only other team to have won both their first two games - will put them in pole position. Alex Cusack was yesterday's bowling hero, he took the last wicket in his ninth over to finish with career best international figures of five for 20 but it was his Clontarf team-mate, Andrew Poynter who won the man of the match award for his Ireland-best innings of 77 on Saturday.

The game had to be continued when rain prevented Afghanistan starting their innings on schedule but it suited Ireland that they could come back and play the full second innings. The Afghans know only one way to play and when Ireland's bowlers dried up the boundaries, the wickets started to fall. There wasn't one 50 partnership in the innings - Ireland had two in theirs, of 237 for nine - and five times Johnston made bowling changes and was rewarded with a wicket.

Cusack proved the golden arm, having Noor Ali and the dangerous Mohammad Shahzad, who averages 84 when Afghanistan beat Ireland, caught in his first over, and followed up with the wickets of Ashgar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari at the start of his second and third spells. Although Andrew White and George Dockrell also picked up wickets in their first overs, when the three spinners - Paul Stirling's comeback over cost 15 - started leaking runs the absence of the in-form Albert van der Merwe looked as if it would be crucial.

That's out says Brian Jerling

But every time Johnston turned to pace, his team-mates did not let him down, Kevin O'Brien having Mohammad Nabi caught at long-on at the start of the second spell and the captain finally got one in the final column in what proved to be his last over to end a ninth wicket stand of 35. It was the catching which won and lost this match, however. Afghanistan dropped five simple ones, Ireland only one and having achieved his first goal of the week Johnston is now hoping to get another chance of beating the Afghans in Saturday"s final.

Beating Afghanistan at the tournament was one of the goals I can now chalk off and hopefully we get another chance to beat them in the final. First, though, the lads are pumped up for the top of the table clash with Scotland and hope we can take another step to making the final. Man of the match Poynter admitted after his club form with Clontarf has been the reason behind his success on his return to the Ireland team after a year in the wilderness.

"Coming into the squad again with form and runs behind me gives me a bit more confidence. I hadn't been in great form previously but this has made a difference. I felt I had a little bit to prove, I just want to take the opportunity," said Poynter who was also delighted for his Clontarf colleague. "Alex is unbelievable. He trains so hard and it was great to see him getting those wickets. He puts it in every day and this was his reward. But all the lads bowled well and everyone fielded well. It's good to get a win over Afghanistan because they have had a little bit over us."

It was only Ireland's second win in seven matches against the newest side at the Associates top table but for Poynter, the Afghans at Rotterdam is a winning combination. "VOC has been good to me with 76 in the four dayer last year and 77 today and I'm five wins from five here so unbeaten. I'm also two from two against Afghanistan, after the win in Benoni in the warm-up for the World Cup qualifiers (when Poynter scored 38 not out)," he said.