CRICKET WORLD CUP SUPER EIGHTS QUALIFIER: IRELAND BOOKED their place at the 2011 World Cup with a game to spare yesterday as they comfortably outplayed The Netherlands to seal a six-wicket victory in Pretoria that also sees them through to Sunday's qualifier final.
It made it seven wins out of eight games in South Africa for Phil Simmons’ side, and again showed Ireland are a class above the rest in the Associate cricket world.
Qualification will ensure increased International Cricket Council funding of €757,000 in each of the next four years, money that will help Cricket Ireland add to the two full-time contracts in place as a new era of professionalism dawns for Irish players.
In truth, this Ireland squad have displayed nothing but professionalism in their approach over the last few years, with qualification for their second 50-over World Cup set up by a 100 per cent record in their five group fixtures.
A loss to Afghanistan in their opening Super Eights fixture focused minds, with the resulting performances against the UAE and yesterday’s win over the Dutch both clinically executed.
Ireland skipper William Porterfield won his third straight toss and had no hesitation in backing his opening bowlers by putting a Dutch side missing star player Ryan ten Doeschate in to bat at the LC de Villiers Oval.
Mudassar Bukhari, promoted to the top of the order in a pinch-hitting role, lasted only 10 deliveries before he top-edged a Boyd Rankin delivery into the safe hands of Gary Wilson at backward point. Eric Szwarcynski would then depart without scoring when wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien held a sharp chance to his right off Peter Connell with the score on 22.
With Ten Doeschate absent from the middle order, it was left to Worcestershire opener Alexei Kervezee to steady the ship, and useful partnerships with Daan van Bunge, Bas Zuiderent and Peter Borren helped them to 163 for four in the 40th over.
The return of Alex Cusack to the attack was to prove key, as the Clontarf all-rounder removed Kervezee for 77 thanks to a stumping from Niall O’Brien, and then bowled Borren and had the big-hitting Darron Reekers caught by Kevin O’Brien at deep mid-wicket.
The Dutch never recovered, losing their last six wickets for 59 runs, with Rankin joining Cusack in taking three wickets. Peter Connell took his second to wrap up the innings for 222 with the final delivery.
Porterfield and Wilson gave Ireland the ideal start to their reply, putting 60 on the board before Wilson departed for 21 to the bowling of Peter Borren.
They may have been better off leaving him there, as Eoin Morgan decided to cut to the chase by going after the Dutch attack. The Middlesex left-hander took a particular liking to Pieter Seelaar, hitting the left-arm spinner for 30 off two overs.
Porterfield would bring up his half-century off 66 deliveries, but Morgan, on just 15 at the time, would eventually go past his fellow left-hander, hitting his 50 off just 42 balls before the second-wicket partnership of 117 was ended when Morgan was caught on the boundary for 76 going for a fifth six.
Porterfield was run out for 78 and Ireland would also lose Niall O’Brien for 10, before Andrew White and Kevin O’Brien yet again saw their side home to victory with 33 balls to spare.
Ireland face Kenya in their final Super Eights fixture tomorrow, safe in the knowledge they will take their place in Sunday’s final at Centurion, where they are likely to face a Canadian side they already beat in the group stages.
In contrast, Scotland, after their loss to Afghanistan yesterday, face a massive battle to earn one of the remaining three World Cup spots on offer.
