Ireland must step up a gear for Dutch

CRICKET:AFTER GRINDING out a five-wicket victory over Denmark on Saturday, Ireland now ratchet up their defence of the European Championship with a One-Day International clash against the Netherlands at Castle Avenue this morning (10.45am).

They will face a Dutch side who vented their frustration from a shock opening loss to Italy by tearing Norway asunder at Balrothery, hitting a massive 474 runs off their 50 overs before bowling the Norwegians out for 104 to complete a 370-run victory.

Pinch-hitter Darron Reekers filled his boots on the tight confines of North County's ground, hitting 196 from 117 balls with 20 fours and 12 sixes, putting on 290 for the first wicket with Tom de Grooth in just 32.5 overs.

Ireland were far more prosaic in getting over their Scandinavian opponents. The Danes made 179 for nine off their 50 overs thanks to a fine 85 from Derbyshire wicketkeeper Freddie Klokker.

Spin was again the key to Ireland's bowling attack, with Kyle McCallan taking three for 32 off his 10, while Andy White finally ended Klokker's knock.

Returning skipper William Porterfield and Gary Wilson had moved on to 77 before Lars Hedegaard gained successful leg-before decisions against Wilson (32) and Paul Stirling for a duck in the same over.

Porterfield eventually went for 58 from 111 balls, charging leg-spinner Bobby Chawla in his first over only to hear the clatter of timber. Andre Botha (9) and Andy White (30) also fell to add a slight bit of pressure, before Reinhardt Strydom (21 not out) and Kevin O'Brien (12 not out) saw them home in the 46th over.

Ireland will welcome back Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan, fresh from Middlesex's Twenty20 Cup win, for today's game, giving the batting line-up a seriously strong look.

The worry for coach Phil Simmons is with his front-line seamers: the opening bowlers in both games to date have picked up just one wicket between them.

That fell to Peter Connell, and Simmons will be hoping the North Down player continues from where he left off in Rotterdam, where he finished the game off against the Dutch with a hat-trick to complete a 10-wicket haul in the Intercontinental Cup victory.

"I'm not too sure about how well we are bowling just yet," remarked Simons. "It's tougher opposition, and the main thing is we need to get wickets at the top. The spinners are doing their job, we just need to get a few wickets early on."