CRICKET WORLD CUP WARM-UP MATCH:IRELAND GOT the party started a week early yesterday as a champagne super over from Trent Johnston helped them record a thrilling victory over The Netherlands in a Twenty20 World Cup warm-up game at Lord's.
A one-over eliminator was required after the game finished tied at the end of regulation play, with both sides allowed nominate three batsmen and one bowler.
Ireland’s hopes looked doomed after a fiery six balls from Dirk Nannes yielded just six runs, with just three of those coming off the bat, while also taking the wicket of Gary Wilson. Johnston had other plans, taking the responsibility after conceding just 18 runs from his four overs as the Dutch posted 135 for nine from their 20 overs.
It didn’t start too well for the former Ireland captain as a misfield from Peter Connell at backward square leg allowed Bas Zuiderent through for a second. A dot ball followed before an excellent piece of work from Gary Wilson behind the wickets saw Zuiderent stumped, leaving the Dutch three balls and one wicket to score five runs. They only lasted another delivery as Johnston took dead aim to hit middle stump at the non striker’s end after Darron Reekers had tried to scramble a single.
The victory will add confidence ahead of today’s warm-up game against West Indies at the Oval.
Coach Phil Simmons will be encouraged by the display in the field as his bowling line-up for the competition takes shape. Peter Connell and Boyd Rankin struck in the early overs, before coming back to take wickets in the closing stages, while spinners Kyle McCallan (3-32) and Regan West (1-23) proved effective in the middle overs to restrict the Dutch to 135 for nine.
Ireland’s reply got off to a poor start as Edgar Schiferli removed Jeremy Bray and skipper William Porterfield in the first four overs. A 55-run stand between Andre Botha and Paul Stirling got things back on track and Ireland were on course until Stirling was run out going for a second after scoring 27 from 22 balls. Left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar then struck twice in the space of three deliveries to remove Kevin O’Brien and Botha, who top-scored with 35 from 32.
Late runs from Wilson (22) and Johnston (17) put Ireland in a position of needing nine runs off the final over to secure the win. Wilson went off the second ball, but West hit six from two deliveries before running a single off the last ball to set up the dramatic eliminator.
RESULT:Netherlands 135 for 9 (T Ten Doeschate 29, D Reekers 20, K McCallan 3-32, B Rankin 2-24, P Connell 2-28); Ireland 135 for 7 (A Botha 35, P Stirling 27, G Wilson 22, P Seelaar 3-28, E Schiferli 2-25).
Ireland beat The Netherlands by four runs in a one over eliminator, after the teams had tied 135 runs each.
