Netherlands scores morale-boosting win in rain-curtailed tie

In the rain-affected qualifier which was reduced to a six-over-a-side affair, Netherlands, put in to bat, rode on its opener Stephan Myburgh's 18-ball 27 to post 59 for five. The Dutch team bowled well to restrict the Irish side for 47 for seven and score a 12-run win.

Published : Mar 13, 2016 20:23 IST , Dharamsala

Netherlands players celebrate the wicket of Ireland's Andrew Poynter at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium, in Dharamsala on Sunday.
Netherlands players celebrate the wicket of Ireland's Andrew Poynter at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium, in Dharamsala on Sunday.
lightbox-info

Netherlands players celebrate the wicket of Ireland's Andrew Poynter at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium, in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Paul van Meekeren's brilliant four-wicket haul guided the Netherlands to a morale-boosting 12-run win over Ireland and end its World T20 campaign on a high at the HPCA Stadium here on Sunday.

In the rain-affected qualifier which was reduced to a six-over-a-side affair, Netherlands, put in to bat, rode on its opener Stephan Myburgh's 18-ball 27 to post 59 for five. The Dutch team was served well by its bowlers, especially Meekeren and left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe (two for three), to restrict the Irish side for 47 for seven.

After rain delayed the start by nearly three hours, Netherlands began positively as Myburgh often made room for himself and hit the Irish bowlers repeatedly on the off-side. Left-arm spinner George Dockrell bowled a perfect length to keep one end tight and pick up three wickets, including two in his first over.

However, Dockrell did not get enough support from his fellow bowlers as Netherlands benefited from its captain Peter Borren's nine-ball 14 to post a challenging target.

Paul Sitrling kept Ireland in the hunt by using his wrist to hit pacer Timm van der Gugten for two sixes over fine leg.

On a surface containing a lot of moisture, Meekeren used the bounce well and mixed it up with some accurate stuff to get rid of Kevin O'Brien, spectacularly caught at deep mid-wicket by a diving Pieter Seelaar, and Stirling. Van der Merwe tightened the noose further by achieving an identical feat in the following over.

Meekeren castled Mark Sorensen and Dockrell in the final over and conceded just seven runs to seal the match in Netherlands' favour.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment