CRICKET/World Cricket League:Ireland capped off the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 (WCL Division 1) in fitting fashion yesterday by contriving to lose a match that at one stage they were winning comfortably - just like they had done in their three other heart-breaking losses in the tournament. In the end, it came down to the final over as Ireland needed 15 runs to win with just two wickets remaining. With John and Paul Mooney at the crease, they fell short, with six runs still to get.
But in truth, the match should have been won much earlier - as has happened so many times of late, they got themselves into a winning position only to throw it away. The game had been reduced to 46 overs due to a delay caused by overnight rain and, for just the second time in the tournament, Ireland won the toss. Kyle McCallan - standing in as captain for Trent Johnston, who is ill - had no hesitation in bowling first.
Early on, however, there were fears that total was going to be enormous. With Ireland's bowlers again serving up tasty half-volleys and long-hops for the opposition's enjoyment, Bas Zuiderent and Darron Reekers were only too happy to fill their boots. The Netherlands sped along at around a run a ball until the third wicket fell and then, to their credit, the Irish bowlers began to reel them in again.
Reekers (who was dropped four times) was eventually out for 104 (his maiden century) having faced just 82 balls in a belligerent innings that included 12 fours and three sixes.
Eric Szwarzcynski offered a solid rear-guard, making 56 not out in 65 balls, putting together a crucial 64-run partnership with Tim de Leede and making sure the Netherlands compiled what was a very competitive total of 260 off the 46 overs.
In reply, Ireland started well despite losing Jeremy Bray early on for eight. William Porterfield and Eoin Morgan constructed a fine partnership worth 153 runs and they were coasting. But for anyone who has witnessed Ireland's ICC World Cricket League campaign the past week or so, nothing can be taken for granted.
And the doom-mongers were sending knowing winks and nods to each other as the Irish wickets began to tumble. Porterfield fell 16 runs short of his third century of the event while Morgan was out just six short of his second. Niall O'Brien, brother Kevin, Andy White and McCallan followed soon after and as the light faded, the Dutch felt they had a good chance. And so it proved.
NETHERLANDS
B Zuiderent c Porterfield b Botha 39
D Reekers run out 104
R ten Doeschate c Bray b McCallan 6
D van Bunge run out 4
E Szwarzcynski not out 56
T de Leede b K O'Brien 24
P Borren st N O'Brien b K O'Brien 7
L van Troost c sub b Botha 6
E Schiferli not out 1
Extras (3nb, 3w, 4b, 2lb) 12
... -----
Total (for 7 wkts, 46 overs) ... 260
Fall of wickets: 1-114, 2-137, 3-153, 4-171, 5-235, 6-245, 7-256.
Bowling: Langford-Smith 7-0-32-0, P Mooney 3-0-26-0, K O'Brien 9-0-58-2, Botha, 9-0-49-2, McCallan 10-0-48-1, J Mooney 4-0-23-0, White 4-0-18-0
IRELAND
J Bray lbw Reekers 8
W Porterfield c sub b Schilferli 84
E Morgan c Zuiderent b ten Doeschate 94
N O'Brien lbw Schiferli 1
K O'Brien b ten Doeschate 3
K McCallan b ten Doeschate 25
A White c sub b Borren 2
J Mooney not out 18
D Langford-Smith c Bunge b 'Doeschate 0
P Mooney not out 1
Extras (3nb, 5w, 3b, 7lb) 18
... -----
Total (for 8 wkts, 46 overs) ... 254
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-195, 3-197, 4-201, 5-202, 6-217, 7-239, 8-239.
Did not bat: A Botha.
Bowling: Schiferli 8-0-51-2, Reekers 6-1-18-1, ten Doeschate 10-0-56-4, de Leede 6-0-32-0, Kashif 7-0-30-0, Borren 7-0-42-1, van Troost 2-0-15-0.
Netherlands won by six runs
Man of the match
Darron Reekers (Netherlands)
