THE most important game in the history of Irish cricket is being played again today when a win or abandonment "against Hong Kong at the Kelab Aman ground would put Mike Hendrick's team in the semi-finals of the ICC Trophy.

There have been three or four most important games in the past height days, starting with the win over the USA, and next week should at least see one more with Ireland having two shots at a place in the World Cup. A week front now it may even be possible to read a long article on Irish cricket that doesn't mention 1969, the West Indies and Sion Mills.

While Hendrick relaxed a little, with his lads having to play poorly to lose and not needing to worry about the weather, Holland manager Hans Mulder was running around yesterday like a one-armed Dutch boy who had discovered six, holes in a dyke.

Mulder first asked the ICC to allow an extra day to finish the final round of group matches should it rain. Refused. He then wanted to change venues to avoid crowd disturbances from over zealous Bangladeshi fans. Also refused.

So he appealed to the better nature of the other seven teams left in the tournament and found sympathy for his plight but very little in the way of changing playing conditions in mid-tournament to suit a vested interest.

Mulder stormed: "I can't understand why these other countries don't want to play cricket and make sure we finish at least one game. These are the serious teams we are talking about - the last eight - the rest are Mickey Mouse sides who are here on a glorified holiday."

It is hard not to feel sorry for Holland who were among the favourites but now face elimination without playing a full "quarter-final" group match if following a run-rate defeat by Ireland and washout against Hong Kong, their game with Bangladesh turns out to be another victim of the rainy season.

"What idiot decided to play a World Cup qualifying tournament here in March and April?" wondered Mulder. "Look in all the guide books and see when it rains in Malaysia in March and April!" Hendrick, meanwhile, was able to name an unchanged side for the third game despite concerns about the form and confidence of both Mark Patterson and Angus Dunlop.