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Sterling leads Irish to victory

Ireland secured their place at next year's World Twenty20 in India after beating Jersey by seven wickets at Malahide.

Paul Stirling claimed three wickets before blasting a half-century in the resounding victory.

Middlesex all-rounder Stirling was one of three Irish bowlers to claim a trio of scalps, along with Alex Cusack and John Mooney, who finished off the tail with a hat-trick, as Jersey slumped from 106 for two to 122 all out.

Stirling then did most of the damage with the bat as Ireland responded to defeats by Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong to top Group A.

Ireland's passage to the tournament was not certain, and a play-off place was a possible avenue they would have to go down.

However rivals Namibia and Papua New Guinea both later lost, to Hong Kong and the United States respectively.

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