BELFAST (Ireland), Aug 4: Ireland became the first team to qualify for next year’s World Twenty20 Championships in England after labouring to a four-wicket victory over Kenya in the first semi-final of the qualifying tournament at Stormont here on Monday.

After taking the hardest possible road to the semi-final stage thanks to a last-gasp win over Bermuda on Sunday, Ireland bowled well to knock the second-seeded African side over for 67 in 17.2 overs.

But the home team’s batsmen made heavy weather of the small target before achieving success with five balls to spare.

Ireland was cruising nicely at 41-2 in 11.3 overs before it lost three wickets in six balls to slump to 44-5 which soon became 49-6 in 15.4 overs.

At that stage, Kevin O’Brien (17 not out) played a small match-wining knock to ensure the second-seeded team avoided an upset.

Ireland will now wait for the outcome of the second semi-final to know about its opponent in Tuesday’s final while Kenya will face the other losing semi-finalist in the third and fourth-place play-off. The finalists of the event are guaranteed a place in the 12-team ICC World Twenty20 2009 to be staged at Lord’s, The Oval and Trent Bridge next year.

It will be Ireland’s first appearance in the ICC World Twenty20 after it missed the inaugural tournament in South Africa last year after finishing fifth in the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 in Nairobi in early 2007.—Agencies