Thursday 25 / April / 2024
Muscat: Ireland’s wicket-keeper Stuart Poynter hit a massive six over mid-wicket off the last ball to take Ireland to victory in its final encounter of the T20I Quadrangular Tournament against Netherlands at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat.
Ireland made one change to the line-up from the tie against Scotland, with Stuart Thompson replacing Lorcan Tucker. Captain Paul Stirling won the toss and immediately elected to bowl first.
Once more the Irish bowlers struggled to contain their rivals during the powerplay, and Netherlands raced to 79-0 after the six overs. The Dutch openers, Tobias Visee (78 from 36 balls) and Max O’Dowd (38 from 34 balls) hit a 116-run opening stand in 9.2 overs and looked set to launch their side to a score well beyond 200.
However, the wicket of Visee led to an Irish revival, led by the bowling of Stuart Thompson (4-18) and Paul Stirling (1-13) - at one stage combining to take four wickets in six balls.
Thompson’s four-wicket haul was his career best, and with Stirling, the two bowlers combined at a crucial middle-overs stage to send down six overs for the impressive return of 5-31. A late flurry of boundaries ensured the Dutch score was competitive, and they finished on 182-9.
The Irish response did not get off to the best start, losing captain Stirling for four, but Kevin O’Brien (46 from 30 balls) and Andy Balbirnie (83 from 50 balls) put on an impressive 86-run stand to have Ireland well in the hunt at the halfway stage of their innings. Balbirnie’s effort was his best on T20I cricket and included 12 fours and a six in a well-controlled but commanding innings.
The Dutch side sensed an opportunity and Ireland’s middle-order stumbled, losing regular wickets as the run-rate slowed.
Come the final over, Ireland needed 12 to win with three wickets in hand. Two wickets and six runs came from the first four balls, leaving Poynter on strike with 6 needed off two overs. He failed to score off the fifth ball, but then launched an almighty pull shot over mid-wicket off the last to win the match in remarkable circumstances.
Andy Balbirnie was named Player of the Match for his 83 from 50 balls.
That completes the tournament for the men in green, finishing with two wins and a loss. Currently third on the table as a result of run rate.
Right decision
Captain Paul Stirling said: “Poynter turned down the single off the second last ball, which was the right decision to make with Chevy [Peter Chase] being at the other end. He got one into the deck, slightly a slower ball, and he got a good bit of bat on it and hit it for six - which was brilliant to get the win.”
