O'Brien leads rout as Morgan opts out

CRICKET/EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE:IT WAS a tale of two talented left-handers yesterday; one that did his talking on the pitch and the other who kept chins wagging off it.

Northamptonshire's Niall O'Brien starred with the bat, hitting his 10th half-century for his country as Ireland comprehensively beat the Netherlands by seven wickets in this One Day International to continue their unbeaten start to the defence of the European Championships.

But Eoin Morgan was the name on people's lips. The 21-year-old informed Ireland coach Phil Simmons on Sunday he would miss the Championships as he requires a scan today on a knee injury picked up in Middlesex's Twenty20 final victory over Kent on Saturday night.

Morgan has also said he will only be available for Ireland's pool games in this weekend's Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast as he intends to play for Middlesex in next Monday's Pro40 match against Worcestershire at Lord's.

Simmons was due to talk to Morgan last night and also contact Middlesex coach Toby Radford, but he confirmed he would not be agreeable to the player missing the knock-out stages of the T20 Qualifier. Simmons said: "It's not acceptable to me, but then again there's three other selectors and I have to make sure everybody is on the same page.

"As long as it's not acceptable to the majority then it can't happen. The only other person who would have an input into it would be the captain. I would hope he understands how important it is . . ."

Simmons's mood was lifted by his front-line seamers, who delivered early wickets after Ireland skipper William Porterfield won the toss and inserted the Dutch. Kevin O'Brien claimed three top-order scalps, while Peter Connell added two to reduce the visitors to 46 for five in the 13th over.

Eric Szwarzcynski and Henk-Jan Mol rescued them somewhat with a partnership of 58 for the sixth wicket, before Ireland's bowlers took over again to bowl out the Dutch for 142 in the 48th over. Gary Wilson and Porterfield fell within the first five overs, but a partnership of 89 between Niall O'Brien and Andre Botha (38), helped by some dropped catches from the Dutch, got Ireland within sight of the victory line.

O'Brien brought up his seventh ODI half-century off 61 balls with eight fours before finishing unbeaten on 58, knocking off the runs in tandem with Andy White (22 not out) to end the game off the last ball of the 29th over.

O'Brien sits out today's clash at Malahide against Italy who lost to Denmark by one wicket in yesterday's thriller at Anglesea Road, the Danes chasing down 212 off the penultimate ball of the game. Scotland trounced Norway by nine wickets after bowling them out for just 43 at Rathmines, the result putting them top of the table on net run rate. They take on the Netherlands at Castle Avenue today, before a clash with Ireland on Thursday that looks like settling the destination of the title.

At Castle Avenue. Ireland won the toss.

NETHERLANDS

D Reekers c McCallan b K O'Brien 19

T de Grooth c Cusack b Connell 10

M Bukhari c Wilson b K O'Brien 0

D van Bunge c Porterfield b K O'Brien 7

E Szwarczynski b McCallan 33

P Borren c N O'Brien b Connell 5

H-J Mol c N O'Brien b Botha 18

GM Mol lbw b Botha 18

J Smits run out 18

E Schiferli run out 0

P Seelaar not out 5

Extras (lb4, w9) 13

Total (all out, 47 ovs) ......, 142

Fall: 1-30, 2-30, 3-40, 4-41, 5-46, 6-104, 7-104, 8-127, 9-133.

Bowling: P Connell 10-1-37-2; K O'Brien 9-2-30-3; Botha 10-2-26-2; A Cusack 7.1-1-25-0; K McCallan 8-1-17-1; G Kidd 3-1-3-0.

IRELAND

W Porterfield c Reekers b Schiferli 19

G Wilson c Smits b Bukhari 3

N O'Brien not out 58

A Botha c Szwarczynski b Seelar 38

A White not out 22

Extras (w3) 3

Total (for 3 wkts, 29 ovs) 143

Fall: 1-20, 2-25, 3-114 DNB: A Cusack, K O'Brien, R Strydom, K McCallan, G Kidd, P Connell.

Bowling: E Schiferli 7-0-49-1; M Bukhari 4-0-16-1; P Borren 5-1-20-0; GM Mol 5-0-25-0; P Seelaar 5-0-16-1; H-J Mol 3-0-17-0.

Umpires: B Bowden, P Baldwin.

Ireland won by 7 wickets.

At Rathmines: Norway 43 (21 ovs) (Z Ashiq 11; S Weeraratna 5-24, M Parker 3-9 J Blain 2-9), Scotland 44-1 (8.2 ovs) (R Watson 18, R Berrington 14no). Scotland won by 9 wkts.

At Anglesea Road: Italy 212 (49 ovs) (P Petricola 62no; M Hedegaard 4-30, B Chawla 4-48), Denmark 215-9 (49.5 ovs) (L Hedegaard 47; P Petricola 3-37). Denmark won by 1 wicket.