WORCESTERSHIRE made a winning start to their pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi with a six-wicket T20 victory over Ireland earlier today.

The County made light of a nightmare 15-hour journey to the Gulf state due to Abu Dhabi airport being closed by fog to seal an impressive win.

Ireland won the toss and elected to bat on a day when the temperature reached 33 degrees, but Shaaiq Choudhry (4-30) and Brett D’Oliveira (2-18) made light of the conditions to help restrict their opponents to 127-7 from their 20 overs.

In reply, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore opened the batting for Worcestershire and got off to a good start, reaching 27 before the latter was caught and bowled by Max Sorensen for 25 from 16 balls, which included five fours.

Mitchell and Alexei Kervezee moved the total onto 61, before the skipper was caught behind off the bowling of Andy McBrine for 15 in the ninth over, while Tom Fell was dismissed by left-arm spinner George Dockrell for just two.

Ross Whiteley replaced Fell and, along with Kervezee, put on 56, taking the total to 125 before Whiteley was caught and bowled by Dockrell for 22 from 25 balls.

Kervezee (54 not out)reached an excellent half-century from just 42 balls with three fours and two sixes, before Gareth Andrew struck the winning runs with a straight driven four.

The New Road side now take on the Netherlands tomorrow in the next T20 match before the Dutch side join Ireland at the t20 World Cup.