ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

IRELAND v NETHERLANDS Ireland selected an unchanged side for this match whereas the Dutch were again weakened by the unavailability of players, most notably Tim de Leede, Jeroen Smits, Daan van Bunge, Lucas van Troost and Billy Stelling. The frequency of its rainfall makes Belfast one of the least favourable places in Europe for cricket and so it was hardly a surprise when the weather prevented any play on the first day. During a bright period in the late afternoon, there was a prospect of making a start. The captains tossed, Ireland decided to bat and the rain immediately returned. The second day began dull and chill with an uncertain weather forecast. With precedents from earlier in the 2005 tournament of Nepal failing to get enough points to win the Asia Group after rain washed out much of the match against Hong Kong in Kirtipur and Scotland’s chances of retaining the championships of the Europe Group being ruined by rain in Deventer, Ireland chose to secure as many points as possible rather than attempt to win the match through tactical declarations. In batting all of the regulation maximum of 90 overs in the first innings, Ireland maintained an average strike rate of 75.3 and so provided the small crowd with some entertainment. Jason Molins and Jeremy Bray put on 121 for the first wicket before Molins was caught at mid on after mis-hitting a pull shot from Adeel Raja. Rain stopped play at 1.00 p.m. with Ireland on 140 for one. After an early lunch, Bray and Andre Botha struck the Dutch bowlers to all parts of the field. The Dutch attack wilted under the onslaught and it was somewhat of a surprise when Bray was well-caught by the bowler from a well-hit drive. Dom Joyce and Botha ensured that there was no respite for the bowlers until Botha hit a too adventurous shot to cover and thereby failed to reach his hundred. Peter Gillespie and Joyce took the score to 321 for three at tea. In the early evening, runs continued to accumulate quickly until Joyce was caught at long on. By the end of the 90 overs, Ireland had made the highest team score in the competition so far, their second-highest team score in all matches to date, and it was the first time that the first five Irish batsmen had all passed fifty in a single innings. The four main Dutch bowlers all conceded more than four runs per over on a pitch which generally favoured the batsmen. The Netherlands began their reply at 5.45 pm with a possible 21 overs left and play scheduled to continue until 7.30 pm. Adrian McCoubrey, despite characteristically giving away many no-balls, extracted life in a way that the Dutch bowlers failed to do. He accounted for Tom de Grooth and Bas Zuiderent and, with Greg Thompson trapping Mark van Nierop leg-before with his leg spin, the Dutch were in difficulty at 56 for three when the umpires stopped play at 7.00 pm because of the low angle of the sun. The Dutch began slowly on the third day with 16 runs being added before, in the eighth over, Eric Szwarczynski was bowled by Botha. Ryan ten Doeschate and the fifteen-year old Alexei Kervezee recovered the situation with a 115-run stand, aided by some poor Irish fielding. Ten Doeschate was dropped three times and Kervezee once before, close to lunch, the former edged to the wicketkeeper. After lunch, taken with the Dutch on 190 for 5, only 22 balls were possible before rain set in for the rest of the day. Kervezee was left undefeated on 46, a very mature performance by the Dutch youngster. Ireland qualified for the semi-finals because they were the only country to obtain a victory in three matches in the Europe Group, all affected by the weather. 66 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2005