A brilliant century from Muhammad Waseem guided UAE to a seven wickets win against Ireland in the final of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Muscat.

It was the second time Waseem had made a hundred against the Irish, repeating his century last October in Dubai.

Chasing 160, UAE had been rocked by two early wickets from Josh Little (2-17) who accounted for Chirag Suri and Aravind in his second over.

However Waseem bludgeoned 7 fours and 7 sixes to reach his hundred from just 59 balls, sharing a third wicket stand of 141 from 85 balls with Rohan Mustafa.

He cleared the ropes for an 8th time before being dismissed with his side on the brink of victory, but the deserved win was achieved with eight balls to spare - Mustafa unbeaten on 37.

Ireland had earlier slumped to 67 for 6 batting first, but were rescued by a middle-order fightback led by Harry Tector.

The YMCA batsman hit 50 as he and Shane Getkate - recalled for the injured George Dockrell (calf) added 55 in 6 overs for the 7th wicket.

Getkate (30) made his top score for Ireland, and a few late blows from Mark Adair (20) and Barry McCarthy (15)- in for the injured Craig Young (thumb) saw Ireland post 159.

It wasn't enough though with Waseem's pyrotechnics sealing the trophy.

UAE will now be in the same T20 Group as Sri Lanka, Namibia and the runners-up from the Zimbabwe qualifier, while Ireland are grouped in Hobart, taking on West Indies, Scotland, and the winners from Zimbabwe.

Still plenty of work for Ireland to do, having lost for the fifth time in succession against the UAE, but that will be for new coach Heinrich Malan to get to work on when he begins next week.