CRICKET:Ireland pulled off a remarkable one-run win against the Netherlands yesterday in a game they were never in until the last four overs.
Memories of their nerve-jangling tied match against Zimbabwe in the World Cup were revived as the Netherlands were foiled off Kevin O'Brien's last ball of the game.
Chasing Ireland's total of 208, the Netherlands were seemingly cruising to victory on 192 for 5 with five overs remaining. But a mixture of Irish spirit and Dutch uncertainty led to the visitors still needing seven off the final over.
O'Brien started the 50th over with two dot balls before an extraordinary error of judgement by batsman Hendrik-Jan Mol shifted the balance of power toward the home team.
With six runs needed off three balls Mol shouldered arms to the next delivery, turning a difficult task into an impossible one.
He took a four off the final ball of the game to reduce the deficit but the damage had been done and the 50-or-so spectators at Stormont did not know whether to cheer or laugh.
Earlier in the day, Eoin Morgan had compiled a patient 51 off 112 balls as the Irish batsmen struggled to gather momentum against a tight Dutch attack.
Dave Langford-Smith was sent in early to provide impetus, which he did with some effective long-handle hitting. He needed just 13 balls to make a rapid-fire 31, including three hefty sixes.
It would prove to be a telling contribution.
The Netherlands remain in Belfast to take on Scotland today before an enticing weekend of cricket sees Ireland play West Indies at Castle Avenue, Clontarf, and then Scotland at Stormont on Sunday.
STORMONT SCOREBOARD:
IRELAND
E Morgan c Zuiderent b Schiferli 51
K Carroll lbw b Stelling 12
A Botha c G Mol b H Mol 27
N O'Brien run out 22
K O'Brien c Szwarczynski b Borren 34
T Johnston c G Mol b Bukhari 2
D Langford-Smith not out 31
A Cusack c Kervezee b Bukhari 1
M Fourie c Zuiderent b Bukhari 4
K McCallan not out 0
Extras (b4, lb9, w11, nb2) 26
Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) ... 210
Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-69, 3-126, 4-150, 5-155, 6-186, 7-198, 8-203.
Bowling: Schiferli 10-0-23-1, Stelling 10-1-21-1, Borren 9-0-55-1, Bukhari 9-2-43-3, H Mol 6-0-16-1, Raja 2-0-21-0, G Mol 4-0-18-0.
NETHERLANDS
A Kervezee c Carroll b McCallan 20
Bukhari run out 71
B Zuiderent c & b Cusack 36
P Borren c Carroll b Botha 27
E Szwarczynski c & b K O'Brien 15
W Stelling not out 10
H Mol run out 2
G Mol not out 5
Extras (b4, lb3, w16) 23
Total (6 wkts, 50 overs) ... 209
Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-138, 3-159, 4-192, 5-192, 6-198.
Bowling: Fourie 6-1-19-0, Langford-Smith 3-0-22-0, Botha 10-2-21-1, Johnston 4-0-21-0, Kidd 9-0-46-0, McCallan 10-0-40-1, Cusack 3-0-14-1, K O'Brien 5-1-19-1.
Ireland beat Holland by 1 run
