A quite brilliant unbeaten 196 from Middlesex batsman Eoin Morgan ensured Ireland maintained their unbeaten start against a strong Abu Dhabi XI.

Morgan and Niall O’Brien (45), added 97 for the 4th wicket after Ireland had been deep in trouble at 12/3 after just 2 overs of play. There was an unhappy first start in Ireland colours for Reinhardt Strydom, who was run out without scoring. Paul Stirling also departed for nought, and skipper William Porterfield managed just a single.

Morgan was at his supreme best, reaching his hundred from 107 balls, hitting 13 fours and one six. Although he lost O’Brien for 45 (59 balls, 7 fours) with the score on 109, the runs continued to flow as he and Alex Cusack added 182 in just 27 overs.

Morgan was the dominant partner, as the boundaries continued to flow as all the bowlers suffered from his onslaught. He scored 96 runs from 64 balls, falling just short of what would have been a fully deserved double hundred. In total he faced 171 balls, hitting 23 fours and five sixes.

He gave just the one chance, when on 153 he top edged a pull, which went through the gloves of wicket-keeper Taqir .Morgan clearly enjoys batting on this ground – the scene of where he scored 209 not out against the UAE in 2007, Ireland’s highest ever individual score.

Cusack further enhanced his reputation as a genuine all rounder scoring 40 from 61 deliveries, as he proved the perfect foil to Morgan. He fell with the score on 291, and although Kevin O’Brien (2) and Fourie (0), both fell quickly to Qazi, Ireland would have been delighted with their final total of 307/7 in 50 overs.

Phil Eaglestone started shakily, conceding 25 from his first 3 overs, but new ball partner Kevin O’Brien was soon in his stride taking 3-14 in his first 6 overs to leave the UAE on 50/3. That soon became 55 for 4, with Thinus Fourie removing Kashif Butt for 0.

Eaglestone bounced back well to remove opener Rizwan Khan, who had smashed 64 from just 47 balls, including 9 fours and 5 sixes. Nitten (39) and Fayaz then added 89 for the 6th wicket, before the NCU combination of Kidd and Thompson dismissed Nitten. Thompson then also removed the dangerous Fayaz who hit 72 from just 54 balls (9 fours, 5 sixes), and Qazi for 0, caught by substitute fielder Kyle McCallan. He was on the field for the injured Alex Cusack, who pulled up with a groin strain after bowling just the 1 over, adding to the ever increasing injury list among the bowlers.

The Abu Dhabi XI kept up the run chase with a flurry of late boundaries. Sajjad hit 46 from 33 balls (4 fours and 2 sixes), and Tariq 29 from 22 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes), before both were removed by Eaglestone (3-40) as Abu Dhabi were dismissed for 282 in 46.3 overs.

The other wicket takers were Kevin O’Brien (3-48), Greg Thompson (3-53), and Thinus Fourie (1-58). Ireland’s next fixture is a 40 over game on Friday versus Essex at the same venue, before they move on to Bangladesh for 3 ODI’s next week.

Scoreboard: At Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Ireland beat Abu Dhabi XI by 25 runs.