Netherlands tri-series with Ireland and Scotland - Series digest

May 24

Ireland end series with a thrilling win

Ireland clinched the final-ball thriller against Netherlands by three runs to finish first in the tri-series, and subject the hosts to last spot with a hat-trick of defeats. After posting a respectable 161/6 on the board, a remarkable comeback by death bowlers helped Ireland prevail despite a solid platform laid by the openers in the chase.

Ireland found themselves reeling at 44/3 with skipper Paul Stirling (36 off 27 balls) doing the bulk of the scoring. Bas de Leede was responsible for that damage, removing Locran Tucker and Harry Tector in the same over. Stirling too departed soon after, in the 10th over. However, George Dockrell combined with Curtis Campher put on 62 runs for the fifth wicket stand to provide some stability. Dockrell was the aggressor in the stand, hitting two sixes and five boundaries in his 30-ball unbeaten 53, while Campher made 37 in 30. Mark Adair provided the finishing touches with a boundary-filled cameo of 19 in eight balls taking the team to 161.

Netherlands were cruising in the chase courtesy the 67-run opening stand between Michael Levitt and Max O'Dowd. When the former fell for 39, O'Dowd joined hands with Vikramjit Singh (27 off 22) to take the hosts forward with anoher half-century partnership. However, once Craig Young broke the crucial stand Netherlands lost momentum. Adair then struck twice in the 18th over, giving away just six runs. Netherlands only needed 19 in the last 12 but Barry McCarthy and Young bowled miserly last overs to eke a narrow win when the home side needed five off the final ball.