Ireland's World T20 Campaign Ended With A Disappointing Defeat By The Netherlands

Ireland's World T20 campaign ended with a disappointing defeat by the Netherlands in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Reduced by yet more rain to just six overs per side the defeat was reflective of Ireland's fortunes in this competition- one they will be very keen to draw a line under.

After winning the toss and asking the Dutch to bat, left-arm spinner George Dockrell gave Ireland a sizeable advantage with a superb spell of bowling- the spinner claiming figures of 3-7 in his 2 overs of the 6.

Stephan Myburgh was best with the bat for The Netherlands with 5 fours in his 27 before being run out while skipper Peter Borren fell the same way for 14off the last ball of the innings.

That allowed them to close their innings on 59-5 leaving Ireland slightly on top at half way.

The reply began well with Porterfield clubbing Ahsan Malik for a first-ball boundary but it started to go downhill for Ireland in the next.

Paul Stirling plundered nine runs from Timm van der Guggten's first two deliveries but the bowler fought back to have Porterfield caught by Ben Cooper off the next for five.

Stirling also sent the final ball of the over into the stands to leave his side on track at 28 for 1 after 2 before the innings imploded.

Paul van Meekeren came into the attack and the tried and trusted "pace off" saw him account for the very dangerous Kevin O'Brien (0) - a wonderful catch in the deep by Peter Seelar- and Stirling (15) in consecutive balls.

Worse was to follow for the Irish when Roelof van der Merwe did exactly the same in the 4th over- Gary Wilson (4) and Andrew Poynter (0) his victims as Borren's side seized their chance.

Five wickets fell for the addition of just fours runs in that carnage as Ireland buckled.

The ask had climbed to 20 from the last over but van Meekeren cleaned up Sorensen (9) and Dockrell (0) - two wickets in two balls for the third time in the innings as Porterfields men closed on 47-7.

Man of the Match Van Meekeren finished with astonishing figures of 4-11 and looks a wonderful prospect for the future while Van Der Merwe's 2-3 was also crucial in the win.
The next competitive action for the Irish is a two game ODI series against Sri Lanka at Malahide in June.

At Dharamsala The Netherlands beat Ireland by 12 runs

The Netherlands 59-5 (6 overs, S Myburgh 27, P Borren 14, G Dockrell 3-7)
Ireland 47-7 (6 overs, P Stirling 15, P van Meekeren 4-11, R van der Merwe (2-3)