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Ireland Thrash Netherlands to Qualify for Twenty20 WC

DUBAI — Ireland outclassed the Netherland by 65 runs to reach the final of the Twenty20 World Cup Cricket qualifiers. By virtue of this victory they joined Afghanistan in the T20 extravaganza to be held in West Indies in a few months.

Ireland won the toss and elected to bat. They lost their first wicket in the second over when William Porterfield was bowled by Ryan ten Doeschate. Alexander Cusack joined Niall O’Brien at the crease and played some glorious shots all over the ground to accelerate the run-rate. O’Brien departed in the ninth over and David Johnston joined Cusack in the middle. Ireland, one of favourites in the tournament, kept the momentum and continued to play positive cricket. At one stage it looked like that they would score above 180 runs but some good ground fielding and brilliant catching by the Netherlands fielders put the brakes on scoring.

Cusack was particularly harsh on bowlers as he hit three sixes and three fours in his valuable 65 which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

Gary Wilson was the other batsman who played a brisk innings of 29 off 23 deliveries laced with four fours. Ireland despite having wickets in their hand failed to fire in the final overs. But they still managed to put up 151 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.

The Netherland captain said: “This was always going to be a difficult tournament because any team can beat the other side. We won three out of five while we needed to win four.”

In reply, the Netherlands had one of the worst starts in the tournament as they lost two wicket for only two runs.

Eric Szwarczynski and Bastiaan Zuiderent started the repair work and took the score to 41 when Johnston struck a double blow and put the result beyond doubt for Ireland. The two wickets changed the complexion of the game and put the Dutch side on the back foot. George Dockrell made it 50 for five when he sent the dangerous Daan van Bungee back to pavilion in the 10^th over.

Peter Borren and Ten Doeschate tried to resurrect the Netherlands innings but it was a huge task because they needed 92 off 52 balls with only tailenders to come. Borren departed in the 12^th over to make it 64 for six.

Ireland once again proved they are the best fielding side of the tournament. They held some splendid catches and their ground fielding was second to none which made a huge difference.

Dockrell got another wicket in his next over and snuffed out the chances of any comeback from the Netherlands.

Dockrell who bagged four wickets said: “I am enjoying my cricket and today’s performance was special because it will take us to the T20 World Cup. I am still in the school and I have brought some books with me here.”

Ten Doeschate hit a couple of sixes but was undone by Andre Botha in the 14^th over after he scored 32 off 19 balls including two sixes and one four. The Netherlands innings was folded in 19.3 overs with Dockrell grabbed four for 20.

Brief scores: Afghanistan beat UAE by 4 wickets: UAE: 100 for 9 in 20 overs (Saqib Ali 24; Mohammad Nabi 3-17, Mirwais Ashraf 2-15, Hamid Hassan 2-21). Afghanistan 101 for 6 in 19.3 overs (Noor Ali 38 not out, Asghar Stanikzai 26; Fayyaz Ahmed 2-14, Silva 2-14). Man of the match: Noor Ali; Ireland beat Netherlands by 65 runs: Ireland 151 for 6 in 20 overs (Alex Cusack 65, Gary Wilson 29; Mark Jonkman 2-21). Netherlands 86 all out in 15.3 overs (Ryan ten Doeschate 32; George Dockrell 4-20, Trent Johnston 2-14, Peter Connell 2-21). Man of the match: Alex Cusack