World Cup: Ireland beat Netherlands by 6 wickets

Ireland beat the Netherlands by six wickets in a group B match of the cricket World Cup at the Eden Gardens today.

Brief Score:

The Netherlands: 306 all out in 50 overs (Ryan ten Doeschate 106, Peter Borren 84, J Mooney 2/59, P Stirling 2/51).

Ireland: 307 for four in 47.4 overs (PR Stirling 101, Niall O'Brien 57 not out; Tom Cooper 2/31).

Ryan ten Doeschate notched up his second hundred of the World Cup to guide the Netherlands to an imposing 306 all out against Ireland.

The 31-year-old, who will make Eden Gardens his home venue when he represents the Kolkata Knight Riders jersey in the Indian Premier League this year, justified his worth with a delightful 106 from 108 balls (13x4, 1x6) to lead the Netherlands recovery with skipper Peter Borren who was equally entertaining with an 82-ball 84 (10x4).

However towards the end, the Dutch exposed their inexperience at this level with four consecutive run-outs in the last over to fold up for 306 in 50 overs in dramatic fashion.

Roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 4, ten Doeschate had yesterday promised a century at the Eden to set the tone for his stint ahead and he did not disappoint the sparse crowd who cheered for his every boundary and six.

After being reduced to 53/3 inside 11 overs, ten Doeschate led the recovery with a 60-run partnership with Wesley Barresi (44) before putting them in a strong position in an entertaining 121-run stand with the skipper.

Put into bat, the Netherlands had a shaky start against their familiar foes with Irish strike bowlers Boyd Rankin and Trent Johnston giving the opening duo of Eric Szwarczynski and Wesley Barresi a tough start.

Barresi was dropped on zero at the second slip as the opener took two runs but only to be hit on the back of his neck from a throw. He had to be retired hurt soon after his partner Szwarczynski (1) edged one to Johnston.

The Netherlands were reduced to 53 for three in 10 overs but Ireland failed to capitalise and struggled without left-arm spinner George Dockrell who was taken out after dislocating his right shoulder.

In the fourth ball of his fourth over, the 18-year-old dived full length to his right to save a single from ten Doeschate and it meant the end of World Cup for the promising spinner who has seven wickets in his kitty including the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar.

Meanwhile, the Dutch opener returned after the dismissal of Alexei Kervezee in the 11th over and plundered the Irish attack engaging himself in a crucial stand with ten Doeschate.

The opener went on to hit two sixes and four boundaries in his 49-ball knock and the partnership set the tone for the Dutchmen before ten Doeschate anchored the innings along with skipper Borren who was equally ruthless.

Ten Doeschate unsettled the Irish bowlers and he was at his aggressive best against seamers Kevin O'Brien and Rankin to race to his second World Cup century from 104 balls.

He hit off-spinner Paul Stirling for a six before being dismissed the next ball but Netherlands were ensured of a challenging total with his fine century.

Atse Buurman hit a quick-fire 26 from 30 balls (4x4) to help the Dutch go past the 300-mark as the Irish bowlers struggled with their rhythm.

Rankin was particularly wayward and went on to concede three no balls and an equal number of wides.

Earlier, the Netherlands brought in medium pacer Bernard Loots in place of hard-hitting batsman Tom de Grooth in the only change to the team that played against Bangladesh in Chittagong in their previous match.

Ireland retained the XI that played against South Africa for their last group B match that is a battle between the two Associates to avoid the wooden spoon.

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