 Ireland will play Holland in a two-match ODI series that will be played
at Castle Avenue in Dublin. The first game of this series will be played on Monday,
August 16, and will see the two sides take on each other for the first time since
the two teams had played in the ICC WCL Division One.
Ireland had beaten Netherlands in that ODI, as they had beaten the other sides,
to win the tournament. The Dutch side had given them a good fight as they had
restricted the to 177, but in the end, were bowled out for 139 to lose the game.
Click for Live Score Card of Ireland Vs Netherlands
The two sides have since, played in a four day game in the ICC Intercontinental
Cup, which is still going on currently. Unfortunately for Holland, they will
be under pressure to win the game after the appalling display in the four day
game against Ireland. Batting first, Holland were bowled out for 174, as George Dockrell picked up four wickets in the innings, whereas Albert van der Merwe
had three.
However, in reply, the Dutch bowlers got no traction from the pitch and despite
a five-wicket haul by Mohammad Kashif, allowed Ireland to get away to
408 in the first innings. Andrew White and John Mooney had both scored big hundreds
and that pegged the Dutch back. In the second innings as well, Holland have
struggled and a loss looks eminent.
When the two sides meet for this ODI, Holland will look to repeat what they
had done in the WCL Division One game, given that it is their best chance to
win the game. Put Ireland in, in conditions that will suit their medium pace
bowlers, and then, restrict them to a small total. after that, the likes of
Tom de Grooth and captain Peter Borren need to bat much better than they
have in recent times and hence, get a move on.
Ireland, on the other hand, are the number 11 rank team in the world behind
Zimbabwe, whereas Holland is at the number 12 position. There is not much to
separate the three sides, and one gets the feeling that if one of the two teams
can win both the games here, they could end up becoming the number ten side
in the world.
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