Stirling blazes to match-winning century

Netherlands reached a more-than-respectable 306 at Eden Gardens, but the total didn't look like nearly enough in the midst of Paul Stirling's blazing, 72-ball 101. Ireland needed a good start to their chase and, with a little luck on their side, they were soon rocketing along at eight an over.

Stirling provided the main impetus in that regard, swinging from the hip from the very start of his knock, as the first ball he faced was answered with a wild hook and a top edge that sailed straight over the wicketkeeper for six. The second ball he face, a full-toss, was clipped to the midwicket boundary and he barely slowed down thereafter, hitting very little straight down the ground but repeatedly puncturing the field on both sides of the wicket.

He plundered 19 from Bernard Loots' second over, including a second six over deep midwicket, and shortly after brought up a 25-ball half century, the second fastest in the tournament. He slowed down a touch when Netherlands postponed the Bowling Powerplay and set the field back in defence, but still showed an eagerness in putting the bad ball away when it was bowled.

William Porterfield, his opening partner, eased past fifty in the 20th over but by then Stirling already had a hundred in his sights. Their partnership stretched to 177, a new Irish record for the opening stand in ODIs, before, in a three-ball flurry excitement, Porterfield fell to a catch behind and Stirling brought up his century but then thumped the next ball - a long-hop - straight to the fielder on the deep midwicket boundary.

Their departures opened a window of opportunity for Netherlands but Ireland's chase barely missed a step, with each successive batsman making a contribution and the brothers O'Brien closing out the game with an unbroken 28-run partnership at close to nine an over.