CRICKET/Inter-Continental Cup: Ireland will play the United Arab Emirates in the semi-final of the Inter-Continental Cup in Namibia on October 23rd-25th after they avoided defeat against the Netherlands in Stormont yesterday.
In truth, after Ireland had scored 407 in the first innings, an away win was never on the cards though coach Adrian Birrell would have harboured hopes of outright victory with the Dutch 56 for 3 at stumps on Wednesday.
But some stout batting from Ryan ten Doeschate (84) and 15-year-old Alexi Kervezee (46 not out), coupled with plenty of Belfast rain meant the game fizzled into a tame draw although Andre Botha (3-27) bowled well.
Perhaps the highlight of a three-day game, dominated by inclement weather, was the innings of opener Jeremy Bray and his 158-run second-wicket partnership with Botha.
Bray ended on 135, which included 20 boundaries, and it was an innings that impressed many at Stormont, not least coach Birrell.
"He played nice and straight," said Birrell last night. "He put away the bad ball and dominated at times without giving many chances. It was a very good innings, the sort of innings he is capable of playing but hasn't played much this year."
A worry for Birrell is that Bray has damaged a foot and will visit a specialist today. It is thought he damaged it while bowling for his club, Clontarf, but encouragingly, initial tests indicate there is no stress fracture as first feared.
Whatever about Bray's fitness, Birrell's preparation for Windhoek could be fraught with difficult choices. Andy White (Northamptonshire), Niall O'Brien (Kent), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) and Trent Johnston (Clontarf), who played no part in getting Ireland to this stage, are now available for selection. With only 13 seats on the plane for players, this could spell trouble for the likes of Roger Whelan, Conor Armstrong and Greg Thompson.
Having beaten them in the ICC Trophy in July, Ireland will be favourites going into the semi-final against the UAE and, indeed, will be fancied to win the final, too, which will be against either Kenya or the winners of the American qualifiers (possibly Canada).
"We are looking forward to Namibia," said Birrell.
"I thought they (UAE) were quite strong. We will have to apply good discipline and technique to beat them."
Scoreboard
Overnight: Ireland 407 for 4, 90 overs (J Bray 135, A Botha 97, D Joyce 54, J Molins 53, P Gillespie 50 not out; van Giezen 2-107) Netherlands 56 for 3, 16 overs (E Szwarczynski 16 not out; A McCoubrey 2-25)
NETHERLANDS (first innings, contd)
E Szwarczynski b Botha18
D Reekers b Botha 8
R ten Doeschate c Wilson b Botha 84
A Kervezee not out 46
J Westermann not out 0
Extras (2b, 5lb, 10nb, 2w) 19
Total (for 6, 59.4 overs) 204
Fall of wickets: 16, 24, 50, 72, 187, 201 DNB: A Raja, E Schiferli, E van Giezen
Bowling: McCoubrey 13-2-44-2, Mooney 6-0-26-0, Thompson 11-2-49-1, McCallan 16-3-51-0, Botha 13.4-4-27-3 Match drawn
