Ireland capitalise on Dutch collapse

Cricket: The Netherlands lost their last six wickets for six runs as Ireland won their final World Cricket League group game…

Cricket:The Netherlands lost their last six wickets for six runs as Ireland won their final World Cricket League group game by 39 runs in Amstelveen.

Ireland, who had already qualified for the final, stuttered to 177 all out and seemed to be set for defeat with the Netherlands cruising on 132 for four.

But the hosts collapsed, with teenagers George Dockrell (four for 35) and Paul Stirling (four for 11) taking centre stage to ensure the Ireland go into the final undefeated where they will take on Scotland, who defeated Afghanistan today.

Stirling had earlier anchored the top of the Ireland order as they slumped to 57 for five early on.

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The opener scored 33 as wickets tumbled around him, debutant Bernard Loots (three for 16) removing three of the top four including eventually bowling Stirling.

John Mooney (54) steadied the ship, in partnership with first Andrew White and then Nigel Jones (25 not out), as they recovered to post a total which at least gave the Ireland attack something to bowl at.

Seventeen-year-old Dockrell then impressed, making inroads into the Holland top order, with the match evenly poised when Bas Zuiderent (28) and captain Peter Borren (47) came together at 59 for four.

The pair added 73 for the fifth wicket and seemed to have done enough even when Dockrell returned to remove Borren.

Stirling then ripped through the tail to devastate Holland and give Ireland what had seemed an unlikely win.