Friday 17 July 2015 19:09, UK
Ireland's hopes of securing automatic qualification for the next year's Twenty20 World Cup have been dealt a major blow after they lost by five runs to Hong Kong in Malahide.
Will Porterfield's side had claimed 21 consecutive victories in the tournament before they lost to Papua New Guinea on Wednesday and they were defeated again as they fell six short of their 130-run victory target on home soil.
Ireland appeared to be in a strong position as they headed into the final four overs at 93-4 requiring 37 more for victory.
But the loss of Porterfield (28) and Stuart Thompson to successive balls, with Stuart Poynter dismissed three balls later, meant they fell short as they finished on 124-8, despite taking 17 from the final over as John Mooney launched a late bid for glory.
Porterfield had earlier won the toss and put Hong Kong in and his decision looked justified when his bowlers restricted their opponents to 129-8 from their 20 overs.
Nizakat Khan hit 25 off 21 balls and top scorer Mark Chapman smashed 30 from 24 deliveries.
Kevin O'Brien claimed 3-32, while Mooney and George Dockrell chipped in with two apiece.
