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‘Stirling' effort from Ireland

S. Sabanayakan

SMASHING SUCCESS:Paul Stirling's power-packed knock took Ireland to an easy win.

KOLKATA: The battle of the minnows turned out to be a run feast at the Eden Gardens here on Friday.

In an entertaining tussle, the Netherlands and Ireland scored 613 runs before the latter snuffed out Dutch aspirations of winning at least one game in this edition of the World Cup. Ireland, which cruised to a six-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare, finished with four points.

Classic century

When the Netherlands amassed 306 after being asked to bat — Ryan ten Doeschate made a classic century, while captain Peter Borren scored an aggressive 84 — it looked as though it would taste its first success in its final game of the tournament.

However, the Irish had other ideas. Skipper William Porterfield and Paul Stirling showed the way with a 177-run partnership for the first wicket before the O'Brien brothers, Niall and Kevin, took over.

Porterfield, playing in his 50th ODI, made 68 with 10 fours while Stirling set a hot pace by scoring the second fastest 50 (25b, 8x4, 2x6) of the current edition. Stirling went on to reach his second ODI hundred off 70 balls with 14 fours and two sixes before losing his wicket.

Finishing in style

Ed Joyce and Niall continued to dominate the Netherlands attack, adding 54 for the third wicket. Niall and Gary Wilson put on 46 for the fourth before Kevin finished the match in style with two sixes off Pieter Seelaar.

Earlier, the Dutch began badly. They lost two quick wickets and were tottering at 53 for three by the 11th over. ten Doeschate, who smashed a century against England, then joined forces with Borren. The two raised 121 for the fifth wicket off 18 overs. ten Doeschate's innings contained 13 fours and a six and his 106 came off just 108 deliveries.

After he was well taken by John Mooney off Stirling, Borren took over the reins and scored a brisk 84.

Once Borren fell, the Dutch lost the plot and what followed was a series of weird run-outs off the last four balls of the innings bowled by Kevin.

The Irish were handicapped by a shoulder injury to left-arm spinner George Dockrell, who has been advised rest for up to six weeks.

The Netherlands: E. Szwarczynski c N. O'Brien b Johnston 1 ( 4b), W. Barresi lbw b Stirling 44 ( 49b, 4x4, 2x6), T. Cooper c Porterfield b Rankin 5 ( 5b, 1x4), R. ten Doeschate c Mooney b Stirling 106 ( 108b,13x4, 1x6), A. Kervezee c K. O'Brien b Mooney 12 ( 16b, 2x4), P. Borren c Porterfield b Mooney 84 ( 82b, 10x4), A. Buurman (run out) 26 ( 30b, 4x4), M. Bukhari (run out) 11 ( 8b, 1x6), P. Seelaar (run out) 0 ( 1b),A. Raja (run out) 0 ( 1b), B. Loots (not out) 0 ( 1b); Extras (b-1, lb-8, w-5, nb-3): 17; Total (in 50 overs): 306.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-12, 3-53, 4-113, 5-234, 6-287, 7-305, 8-305, 9-305.

Ireland bowling: Rankin 9-0-74-1, Johnston 10-1-50-1, Mooney 10-0-59-2, Dockrell 3.4-0-15-0, Stirling 10-0-51-2, Cusack 2.2-0-15-0, K. O'Brien 5-0-33-0.

Ireland: W. Porterfield c Buurman b Cooper 68 ( 93b, 10x4), P. Stirling c Kervezee b Seelaar 101 ( 72b, 14x4, 2x6), E. Joyce c Buurman b Cooper 28 ( 33b, 3x4), N. O'Brien (not out) 57 ( 58b, 7x4), G. Wilson c Buurman b ten Doeschate 27 ( 21b, 2x4, 2x6), K. O'Brien (not out) 15 ( 9b, 2x6); Extras (lb-10, w-1): 11; Total (for four wkts. in 47.4 overs): 307.

Fall of wickets: 1-177, 2-179, 3-233, 4-279.

The Netherlands bowling: Bukhari 7-0-42-0, Raja 8-1-44-0, Loots 2-0-29-0, ten Doeschate 9-1-58-1, Seelaar 9.4-1-55-1, Borren 5-0-38-0, Cooper 7-1-31-2.

Man of the Match: Paul Stirling .

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