Ireland were beaten by the disappointingly wide margin of seven wickets with 5.5 overs to spare as favourites, Holland, showed their pedigree on the first day of the European Championship in Glasgow. The defeat might have been heavier but for another meaty innings of 43 from Angus Dunlop. Dunlop arrived at the crease with Ireland 39 for 3, a scoreline that quickly deteriorated to 60 for 5 as Dominic Joyce's promising debut was cut short by the day's only lbw decision and Barry Archer was caught behind after striking three boundaries.
Dunlop gave Ireland a target to bowl at adding 73 for the sixth wicket with Paul Mooney.
Gordon Cooke launched a big six of his own and Ireland - with 164 in the bank - were briefly in with a shout when Mooney bowled Robert van Oosterom and off-spinner Kyle McCallan opened with two maidens, one of them claiming the scalp of Klaas Jan van Noortwijk. However, opener Ahmed Zulfiquar and Roger Bradley made the game safe with a series of thumping drives.
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