SYLHET, Bangladesh: Ireland sent debutants United Arab Emirates crashing out of the World Twenty20 on Wednesday, winning the Group B match in Sylhet by the Duckwoth Lewis method.

The Irish, who opted to bowl after winning the toss, restricted their opponents to 123-6 in 20 overs before reaching 103-3 in 14.2 overs when two power failures and then rain stopped play.

Ireland were declared the winners by 21 runs using the Duckworth Lewis formula.

It was Ireland’s second win on the trot.

A second successive defeat for UAE means they are eliminated from the tournament.

Ireland lost their opener Paul Stirling, who hit a brilliant 60 in his team’s three-wicket win over Zimbabwe Monday, for just eight but quickly rallied.

Ed Joyce topscored with 43 while skipper William Porterfield made 33 not out.

Ireland’s bowlers, led by spinner Paul Stirling (2-12) and paceman Kevin O’Brien (2-17) kept it tight, preventing any UAE batsmen from hitting a big innings despite a soild 35-run start in five overs.

Once opener Amjad Ali fell for 20, it all went wrong for the UAE who were competing in the World Twenty20 for the first time.

Shaiman Anwar topscored with a 28-ball 30 which included two sixes.

Elsewhere in Group B, Zimbabwe beat the Netherlands earlier Wednesday, putting them in contention for a place in the Super-10 stage.

The Dutch also have one win from two games and are still in with a chance of progressing.

The top two teams in both Group A and B will join the eight seeds in the next round, starting from March 21.

Skipper Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza kept Zimbabwe's hopes alive with a hard-fought five-wicket win over the Netherlands in Sylhet.

Taylor hit a solid 39-ball 49 while Masakadza scored 43 off 45 balls to help Zimbabwe pass their 141-run target with a six off the last ball.

When Taylor was dismissed after hitting two fours and a six, 15 runs were needed off the last 11 balls.

When the last over began, seven were still needed.

Sean Williams hit a lucky boundary and then ran himself out for 26 with the scores tied.

But Vusi Sibanda hit paceman Ahsan Malik for a huge six to give Zimbabwe victory.

Taylor said there was still plenty of room for improvement.

"We committed very basic errors on the boundary which cost us 10-15 runs," he said. "It wasn't good enough for a professional outfit.

"Hopefully, we can rectify that against the UAE and we'll be a chance."

Netherlands skipper Peter Borren felt his team fell 20 runs short.

"That said, we've got a good varied bowling attack, but we would have been confident with 150," he said.

The Netherlands, who won the toss and batted, were lifted from a precarious 19-3 to 140-5 by a fighting 58-ball 72 not out from Tom Cooper, including nine fours and a six.

Cooper added an invaluable 52 for the fifth wicket with brother Ben Cooper (20) after spinner Prosper Utseya (2-24) had dismissed opener Stefan Myburgh for a duck off the third ball of the innings.

Brief scores:

UAE: 123-6 in 20 overs (Shaiman Anwar 30; P. Stirling 2-12, K. O’Brien 2-17)

Ireland: 103-3 in 14.2 overs (E. Joyce 43, W. Porterfield 33 not out)

Ireland win on Duckworth Lewis method.