Ireland notched up a famous first win over Netherlands in a T20 World Cup game chasing down 107 in just 15.1 overs to give a big boost to their net run rate as well, which might come in handy in the group of death if three teams end of two wins.
Curtis Campher was the hero of the game for his record-breaking feat, in which he picked up four wickets in four balls, becoming only the third bowler in the entire world after Lasith Malinga and Rashid Khan to achieve that. Camphor removed Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate and Scott Edwards to complete his hattrick and then removed Roelof van der Merwe to complete four in four.
His one over was instrumental in restricting the Dutch to only 106 in their quota of 20 overs. Campher’s double hattrick was also the first for any Irish bowler in a World Cup.
Mark Adair was the other Irish bowler who bowled brilliantly and finished with the figures 3-9 in his four overs. This was the most economical spell for an Irish bowler in a World Cup game. Courtesy of brilliant last over from him, in which only four runs were given and three Dutch wickets were taken.
Chasing the target, the men in green got off to a good start with Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling giving a 27 run partnership in only four overs to start the chase. But then the Netherlands struck twice in two consecutive overs to try and change the course of the game. Stirling, who is usually a quick run-scorer stuck to the crease and had a match-winning 59 run stand with Gareth Delany.
Even as Delany got out eventually on 44 of 29 balls, Stirling made sure that he saw the team through with a patient 30 off 39 balls.
While Ireland would be playing their toughest game in the tournament when they face Sri Lanka next, the Netherlands and coach Ryan Cambell would go back to the drawing board to try and get a win against Namibia to keep their qualification hopes alive till their last league game against Sri Lanka.