Ireland's thoughts turn to Namibia

Holland 56 for 3 trail Ireland 407 for 4 dec (Bray 135, Botha 97, Joyce 54, Molins 53, Gillespie 50*) by 351 runs
Scorecard

Ireland all but booked their place in October's Intercontinental Cup semi-finals with a clinical batting performance against Holland in Belfast. By the close of the second day - the first was washed out - Ireland had rattled up 407 for 4 and reduced Holland to 56 for 3. With one day left, the best that Holland can hope for is a draw, and that would send Ireland to Namibia.

Ireland won the toss, batted, and were in control from the off. Their top five all reached fifty, with Jeremy Bray and Andre Botha leading the charge. Bray scored a composed 135, while Botha fell three runs short of what would have been a deserved hundred. Holland lacked the firepower to trouble a strong top order, and as the runs flows, their heads visibly dropped.

Faced with a daunting total and a difficult hour before the close, Holland lost three wickets to end any lingering hopes they had of pulling something out of the bag. Adrian McCoubrey, who was instrumental in Ireland's dramatic win against Scotland earlier this month, took two early wickets to send the local supporters home happy.