Netherlands vs Ireland, 37th Match, Group B at Kolkata, , Mar 18 2011 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
37th Match, Group B, Eden Gardens, March 18, 2011, ICC Cricket World Cup
(47.4/50 ov, T:307) 307/4

Ireland won by 6 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
101 (72) & 2/51
paul-stirling
New
IRE
Full commentary

It will be a huge, huge shame if Ireland - as spirited and as sparkling as they are - cannot turn up for the next World Cup in 2015. They have fought, they have competed, they have thrilled, they have delighted, they have made complete strangers cry with that improbable win against England. And have now signed off with a comfortable win, their second in six games, they had a good chance in a couple of others. But it's all over for them now. And that will be it for us from this game. I enjoyed bringing this game to you. Keep the feedback coming in. Liam Brickhill will have his bulletin up soon for you to read. On behalf of Sid Talya, this is Abhishek Purohit signing off. Cheers!

Stirling is the Man of the Match. Porterfield collects the award on his behalf, he is having cramps, Robin Jackman says.

William Porterfield: "Was a great innings from Paul, showed a lot of character. We were pretty confident, slightly disappointed with the way we bowled. Look, we are pretty happy with the kind of preparation we have done, disappointed with a couple of close games, who knows we could have qualified, we want to not just to turn up once, but to turn up day in day out. We are very happy with where we are. The public at home and in India have been behind us. To finish it off in Eden Gardens with a win is great."

Peter Borren: "We made a pretty good comeback from four down for 100-odd. Was pretty happy with the score, felt we had a chance. Lot of credit to young Paul Stirling. We had a good chance, playing Bangladesh and India was an amazing experience, we have learnt on these wickets, you can go for plenty here, you need partnerships, and wickets in hand. We need to play more often at the highest level."

Kevin O'Brien: "Had a great time in India. Just love the people here, especially the ones in Kolkata. Good to sign off with a win. We have played some good cricket. It's for the people of India and the world to see how Stirling played, he's the future."

Binod: "Ireland- the bravest team of the tournament!!!"

Bala: "One brother deals in 4s and the other deals in 6s. Wonderful game of the associates."

What a chase from the Irish. Stirling with a rollicking ton upfront, Porterfield chipped in with a fluent half-century, Joyce and Wilson hung in, and the coolness of Niall O'Brien was useful in the end. Kevin finished it off with couple of maximums, this Irish team will go places, if the ICC give them the leeway.

47.4
6
Seelaar to K O'Brien, SIX runs

that will do for the Irish, Kevin gets down the track, reaches out to get to this flatter one, and lifts it over long off, that has disappeared, Kevin watches it go all the way, holds the pose like a golfer, Niall loves it, punches his bat, muted reaction from the big fella Kevin, just puts bat under his arm and walks back, Ireland have made a tall chase look mighty confortable, it's the O'Brien brothers to finish it off

47.3
1
Seelaar to N O'Brien, 1 run

Niall gets another single now, brings Kevin back on strike

47.2
1
Seelaar to K O'Brien, 1 run

Seelaar continues to flight it, what heart, what guts, Kevin gets too much under the low full toss, gets a single to long off

47.1
6
Seelaar to K O'Brien, SIX runs

Kevin tees off, Seelaar finally pays the price for consistently flighting it, the big man needs only two steps to get to the ball, it is picked up beyond the straight boundary

end of over 478 runs
IRE: 293/4CRR: 6.23 RRR: 4.66
Niall O'Brien56 (57b 7x4)
Kevin O'Brien2 (6b)
Ryan ten Doeschate 9-1-58-1
Pieter Seelaar 9-1-41-1
46.6
4
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, FOUR runs

Niall does it this time, comes down the track, takes Tendo on, swings it over mid on, Ireland still look tense in the dressing room

46.5
2
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, 2 runs

Niall skips down, another thick inside edge, flies to deep square leg, misfield, they run for it, precious runs

46.4
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, no run

the slower one, gets it right, he cannot beat point, Netherlands hanging in there

46.3
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, no run

makes room outside leg, Tendo follows him with a full one, driven in the air, point is in the way

46.2
1
Ryan ten Doeschate to K O'Brien, 1 run

gets a full one, flicks neatly, midwicket dives, but they have the single

Borren deep in discussion with Tendo, now or never for the Dutch, mid off ins in the circle

46.1
1
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, 1 run

goes charging down the track and across, the inside edge fetches him a single, how many of them have we seen, there is short fine leg, but Niall has his 50

end of over 462 runs
IRE: 285/4CRR: 6.19 RRR: 5.50
Niall O'Brien49 (52b 6x4)
Kevin O'Brien1 (5b)
Pieter Seelaar 9-1-41-1
Ryan ten Doeschate 8-1-50-1
45.6
1
Seelaar to N O'Brien, 1 run

gets forward on his knee, goes for the sweep, finds deep square leg, Seelaar all heart in the Powerplay, gets away with another tight over

45.5
1
Seelaar to K O'Brien, 1 run

now he gets the single, through square leg, Niall comes on strike

45.4
Seelaar to K O'Brien, no run

goes for the big sweep, this is brilliant stuff from Seelaar, misses it completely

45.3
Seelaar to K O'Brien, no run

tossed up on the stumps, Kevin does not take him on, defends

45.2
Seelaar to K O'Brien, no run

another dot ball, cannot get it past mid on, full in length on the stumps

45.1
Seelaar to K O'Brien, no run

full outside off, super delivery, patted away towards covers

Seelaar in the Powerplay, the final roll of the dice for the Dutch

end of over 4510 runs • 1 wicket
IRE: 283/4CRR: 6.28 RRR: 4.80
Niall O'Brien48 (51b 6x4)
Kevin O'Brien0 (0b)
Ryan ten Doeschate 8-1-50-1
Pieter Seelaar 8-1-39-1
44.6
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, no run

blocked off the front foot, absolute coolness from Niall, Ireland need nothing else right now

44.5
2
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, 2 runs

squeezes this one wide of third man, another couple

44.4
2
Ryan ten Doeschate to N O'Brien, 2 runs

but it is his brother on strike, keeps a cool head, lofts a fuller one over extra cover, sweeper cover manages to get there, does he touch the ropes, does he not?

Kevin to finish it off for Ireland

44.3
W
Ryan ten Doeschate to Wilson, OUT

Buurman holds on, stutters but holds on, went for the big pull, it hurried on to him, went steepling in to the Kolkata evening, when it came down Buurman was there, fell down but took it cleanly, it's that man Tendo who creates a crack of an opening, can Netherlands barge in?

Gary Wilson c †Buurman b ten Doeschate 27 (21b 2x4 2x6 26m) SR: 128.57
44.2
2
Ryan ten Doeschate to Wilson, 2 runs

couple more, slapped away wide of sweeper cover

44.1
4
Ryan ten Doeschate to Wilson, FOUR runs

got to feel for Netherlands, nothing has gone their way, he throws the bat at a full one outside off, and Buurman cannot get to the outside edge as the ball flies past him

and Ireland have taken the batting Powerplay, Borren turns to Tendo. Pietlab: "This has been the perfect post St Patties day gift from Ireland. I gotta admit I was a little worried that they'd be hungover today!" Borren fiddles with the field, third man, fine leg, sweeper cover on the boundary

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ICC Cricket World Cup

Group A
TEAMMWLPTNRR
PAK651100.758
SL64192.582
AUS64191.123
NZ64281.135
ZIM62440.030
CAN6152-1.987
KENYA6060-3.042
Group B
TEAMMWLPTNRR
SA651102.026
IND64190.900
ENG63270.072
WI63361.066
BAN6336-1.361
IRE6244-0.696
NED6060-2.045