Paul van Meekeren bagged four wickets to help the Netherlands notch up a consolation 12-run win via the Duckworth/Lewis method in their final match of the World Twenty20 in Dharamsala, India, yesterday.
Invited to bat in the inconsequential group game, the Dutch opening batsman had to wait for more than two-and-a-half hours to take to the field with the rain-affected game reduced to six overs a side.
Left-hander Stephen Myburgh struck an 18-ball 27 to help the Netherlands post 59-5 and the bowlers did well to defend the total.
Photo: AP
Medium-pacer Van Meekeren (four for 11 from two overs) tore into the Ireland batting, getting good support from left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe, who picked up two scalps, to restrict Ireland to 47-7.
“It’s special, I’m not sure if it’s happened yet. We had been preparing for this for the last three weeks, maybe six months, and it worked out well,” an out-of-breath Van Meekeren said after the win.
Both the Netherlands and Ireland were hard done by rain-abandoned games in their respective second outings after losing their opening matches to Bangladesh and Oman.
Later yesterday, Bangladesh were due fight it out with Oman for a place in the Super 10s.
In the late match on Saturday, Scotland won the battle of pride against Hong Kong by eight wickets via the Duckworth/Lewis method in an inconsequential Group A tie.
Chasing a revised target of 76 in 10 overs in the rain-hit match, Scotland cantered home with 12 balls to spare and registered their first win in an International Cricket Council tournament.
Earlier, the Preston Mommsen-led Scotland bowled well to restrict Hong Kong, who remained winless in the 16-team event, to 127-7 in 20 overs.
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