THE bottom line of two World Cup points was achieved, but Ireland nearly messed it up in a thriller against UAE yesterday.

It took a classy innings by Gary Wilson and a ferocious one by Kevin O'Brien to chase down the Emiratis' target after an off-colour display by the Irish bowlers.

And although Ireland are now two-from-two in Pool B, the close result means Ireland's net run rate isn't as healthy as it could be - and that could spell disaster in a tight group.

“I don't like games like today but winning makes it a great game”, tweeted Phil Simmons after the two wicket win in Brisbane.

And the coach has the biggest headache of all ahead of next Tuesday's game against South Africa - does he go with his trusted medium pacers or trust the young guns of Craig Young and Peter Chase who offer more mph?

Certainly spinner Andy McBrine must be recalled on a reputedly slow pitch.

“That was closer than we'd have wanted, but we'll take a win any day of the week”, William Porterfield said after the game. “It helped to have wickets in hand, especially when you have Gary Wilson and Kev coming in at the end."

Winning the toss again, Porterfield asked the UAE to bat, again trusting that his batsmen could chase any target set - or fearing that his bowlers would allow the opposition to the same.

The Irish seamers found little help from the pitch and UAE saw off the 10 over powerplay without loss before Paul Stirling came on to make the breakthrough.

He claimed Krishna Karate to a slip catch by Kevin O'Brien which led to a hilarious ‘crane pose' celebration in homage to the Karate Kid movie. Lord knows what O'Brien would have done had he got out Rafaello too.

The Railway Union man picked up a couple of wickets himself and UAE were soon in trouble at 135-6 and a target below 200 looked likely.

But some wayward bowling and puzzling bowling changes helped Shaiman Anwar (106) and Amjad Javed (42) to a World Cup record stand for the 7th wicket of 107.

Although Paul Stirling's off breaks were keeping the batsmen quiet, the senior spinner George Dockrell was ignored till the 30th over which meant he was never going to bowl his full ten overs.

O'Brien lost his rag with Anwar after the batsman - legally - kept moving across his stumps and his closing overs went for 16, 8 and 19.

The Emiratis took 149 runs off the last 15 overs which meant Ireland were staring at the sort of embarrassing defeat they are used to handing out.

It looked worse when Paul Stirling was caught behind in the second over but Ed Joyce copped a little bit of luck which could have been crucial in the end.

On 16, a delivery from Javed clipped the off stump and the flashing bail jumped in the air - but then fell back into its groove. The laws of the game say the bails have to be completely removed so Joyce won a reprieve.

He added a further 21 runs before an untypically scratchy innings ended with a catch to the keeper.

Porterfield too had been uncomfortable against a disciplined bowling attack and was out for the same score of 37, and Niall O'Brien followed, lbw for 17.

Gary Wilson has been in poor form, with just one 50 in his last 18 ODIs, the last more than a year ago. But he averages more than a 100 against UAE and yesterday showed why he loves their bowling.

He added a solid 74 with Andrew Balbirnie (30), but it was the partnership with Kevin O'Brien that swung the game Ireland's way.

O'Brien was positive from the start, batting with the freedom that comes with knowing that batsmen of the experience of John Mooney and Alex Cusack were waiting to pick up the baton.

He rode his luck with dropped catches and run outs, but found the boundary regularly and cleared it twice in three balls to bring up his fifty in just 24 balls - a faster rate than his famous century against England.

It was the fifth fastest 50 in World Cups, beaten only by Brendon McCullum and Mark Boucher who each did so twice.

While O'Brien was thumping the ball to all parts Wilson was accumulating steadily and took up the lead when the Dubliner was out just after reaching 50.

There was more drama to come as first Mooney was out in the 47th over, and then three balls later Wilson was caught at point for a well-made 80.

But by then just 12 runs were needed off 15 balls and George Dockrell and Alex Cusack needed just 11 to get them.

“It was not our most accomplished performance,” Niall O'Brien said afterwards.

“I think we were a bit scappy all around. The bowling wasn't great and the batting didn't really get going at all until Kev and Gary.

“Gary played a super hand, it was a fantastic knock and that's probably as well as he has played for a long time.

“I'm delighted for him and delighted for all the boys. It was a tricky old game here. I thought UAE batted really well. We did get out of jail, it wasn't our best - but it's two points.”