SCARBOROUGH, Tobago

(CMC):

Ireland clinched fifth place in the CLICO International Under-15 Championship league when they defeated the Americas Develop-mental XI team by two wickets in their play-off match yesterday at Shaw Park.

Despite, several hiccups in the middle-order, Ireland successfully chased down their modest victory target with three overs remaining in the dull contest.

Set a target of 139, at an asking rate of just under three runs per-over, Ireland laboured to victory against their mediocre opposition.

They were indebted to an exciting run-a-ball 44 by Barry McCarthy that put them on course for an unlikely victory, after they had stumbled to 77 for six. He struck seven fours.

Americas were led by Dale Parker (2-18), Stephen Taylor (2-22) and Damali Bell (2-28), who had two wickets apiece.

Earlier, the Americas XI opted to bat on a placid batting track after winning the toss but failed to take advantage of the situation, folding for a disappointing 138 in 44.5 overs. Only Taylor with a swashbuckling 60 off 69 balls including eight fours and a six, offered resistance, along with Joshua Gilbert who made a painstaking 27 off 63 balls with three fours.

Ben Whylie (3-10) and Jonathan Andrews (3-46) were the top bowlers for the Irish. McCarthy captured the Man of the Match award for his sterling effort.

Today, Bangladesh and Malaysia will battle at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain in the play-off for the third and fourth place.