ICC World Cup Qualifier: Ireland beat Netherlands by 93 runs (DLS Method)
March 5 (CRICKETNMORE) - Ireland beat Netherlands by 93 runs (DLS Method) on Sunday. Put in to bat, Ireland scored 268 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. All the top order batsmen got decent starts but only Andrew Balbirnie was able to cross the 50-run mark, scoring 68 from 75 balls with four fours and one six.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O’Brien (49), opener William Porterfield (47) and one-down batsman Ed Joyce (32) were the other notable run-getters, while the 101-run fourth wicket partnership between Balbirnie and O’Brien was the biggest of the Irish innings.
For the Netherlands, fast bowler Timm van der Gugten was the most successful bowler with three for 59 even as Ireland collected 76 runs in the last 10 overs for the loss of four wickets.
Chasing a revised target of 243 runs in 41 overs, the Netherlands started poorly when they lost Maxwell O'Dowd on the third delivery of the opening over and then continued to lose wickets at regular intervals until they were bowled out for 149 to fall short by 93 runs.
Tim Murtagh, who started the riot when he dismissed O’Dowd, was the pick of the Ireland bowlers when he finished with three for 28, while Boyd Rankin and Barry McCarthy took two wickets apiece. For the Netherlands, van der Gugten (33), Scott Edwards (26) and Ryan ten Doeschate (21) were the notable contributors.
Ireland beat Netherlands by 93 runs (DLS Method), Old Hararians (target revised to 243 runs in 41 overs)
Ireland 268-7, 50 overs (Andrew Balbirnie 68, Niall O’Brien 49, William Porterfield 47, Ed Joyce 32, Paul Stirling 20; Timm van der Gugten 3-59)
The Netherlands 149 all out, 32.2 overs (Scott Edwards 26, Ryan ten Doeschate 21; Tim Murtagh 3-28, Boyd Rankin 2-19, Barry McCarthy 2-28)
Player of the match – Andrew Balbirnie (Ire)
ICC Media Release