Netherlands opened their mark in the ICC ODI Super League by beating Ireland in a nail-biting thriller at the Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht, on 2 June. Pieter Seelaar’s men have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with the win.
Timm van der Gugten’s valiant 49 helped Netherlands reach 195 after being opted to bat first. In reply, Paul Stirling’s 69 and, late down the order, Simi Singh’s 45, went in vain as the visitors fell only one run short of the target.
Earlier, Stephan Myburgh (20) and Max O’Dowd (23) got Netherlands off to a quick start. From 51/1, Netherlands reduced to 53/5 in a span of just three overs. Josh Little (3-32) removed Ben Cooper (6) and Seelaar (0) in his opening over to rattle the Dutch middle-order.
Saqib Zulfiqar (23) and Logan van Beek (29) then added 49 runs for the sixth wicket. Unfortunately. both of them were run out by Irish fielders. They were 102/7 after 32.1 overs. Van der Gugten, batting at No. 9, single-handedly took the Netherlands to a respectable total. They also batted out all fifty overs.
Little (3-32) and Craig Young (3-34) picked up three wickets each for Ireland, while off-spinners Simi Singh (1-28) and Andy McBrine (1-31) had a wicket apiece.
Chasing 196, Ireland lost William Porterfield (5) and skipper Andy Balbirnie (4) early. Logan van Beek (2-44) got both in the second over. Fred Klaassen (1-28) then dismissed Harry Tector for nought. Ireland were struggling at 11/3 at that stage.
However, Paul Stirling kept Ireland in the game from the other end. Alongside Simi, he forged 66 runs for the sixth wicket. In the 37th over, off van der Gugten (1-25), Stirling hit straight to Seelaar at the cover which brought Netherlands back into the contest.
With four wickets in hand, Ireland required 24 runs off the final 30 balls. Seelaar brought himself on in the 47th over: it worked. He removed McBrine (17) and Barry McCarthy, which eventually changed the dynamics of the see-saw encounter. Little (9*) tried his best but it came all too late for Ireland.
Brief Scores:
Netherlands 195/10 in 50 overs (Timm van der Gugten 49; Joshua Little 3-32) beat Ireland 194/9 in 50 overs (Paul Stirling 69; Seelaar 3-27) by 1 run. Player of the Match: Timm van der Gugten.