Geraint Jones top scored for Papua New Guinea as they completed a surprise win over Ireland in a warm up match ahead of the World Twenty20 qualification campaign.

Jones hit 39 from 26 balls, including two fours and two sixes as Papua New Guinea posted a scored of 161 for 8 in Dubai.

Ireland fell short in their replying, finishing on 143 for 7.

Papua New Guinea begin their qualification campaign on Friday for the tournament which takes place in Bangladesh in March.

They are in Group B and begin with a match against Kenya, ahead of fixtures against the Netherlands, Scotland, Afghanistan, Bermuda, Denmark and Nepal.

Before leaving for Dubai, Jones commented; "I had a good chat with the PNG coach the other night about how they have been going and the rest of the boys have been together for about the last seven weeks.

"They’ve been doing a lot of good things of late and I want to make sure I am in a similar position to them for when I get out there.

"It’s something I’m really looking forward to doing again and catching up with the boys. They are a really good bunch, but we realise it will be tough for us as only the top two go through this time around. I’d like to think if we play well, we could at least make it into thetop six."