Netherlands win 6-over shootout

Six-overs-a-side cricket is quite popular in Bangladesh. Kids play it in every conceivable ground. Besides, amateur tournaments involving corporate houses or even media houses are also popularly known as six-a-side cricket, involving six players with six overs per side.

But for professionals this kind of game is like a cruel hoax, apart from the little entertainment value it offers. It is as if you are playing a game of poker and run the risk of losing against an amateur hand. We had a rain curtailed six-overs-a-side game at Dharamsala yesterday between the Netherlands and Ireland. Thankfully, both teams were playing only for pride and the Dutch triumphed with flying colours. It was a stipulation that suited both teams because the temperature out in the middle was 6 degrees Celsius and felt more like three degree.

The Netherlands, sporting their famed orange shirt, won by 12 runs defending a not too impressive 59 for five. In a short game, one very good over makes all the difference and right-arm pace bowler Paul van Meekeren actually bowled two good overs to turn the tide around after Ireland were racing towards that 60-run winning target, amassing 28 runs in two overs when Meekeren had Kevin O'Brien magnificently caught by Pieter Seelaar with his second ball and then dismissed a menacing Paul Stirling with his next delivery.

He then returned to bowl the final over with Ireland needing 20 runs and two more wicket off successive deliveries to finish with four wickets for 11 runs in two over, his best T20 figures, surpassing his previous best of two for eight.

It was the Netherlands' only win in the ICC World T20 qualifiers after their eight-run defeat against Bangladesh. Their other game against Oman was washed out. Ireland on the other hand had a forgettable tournament, losing two games including a stunning defeat against Oman.

SCORES IN BRIEF

NETHERLANDS: 59 for 5 in 6 overs (Myburgh 27, Barresi 8, Borren 14, extras 8; Dockrell 3-7)

IRELAND: 47 for 7 in 6 overs (Stirling 15, Sorensen 9, extras 9; Van Meekeren 4-11, Van der Merwe 2-3)

Result: Netherlands won by 12 runs.

Player-of-the-match: Paul van Meekeren.