Related Links : Quadrangular Series in Ireland 2007 : Scorecard
Hosts Ireland have defeated Netherlands by the narrowest of all margins in the world which is by one run. Belfast was the venue for this second match of the Quadrangular Series that hosted an exciting thriller towards the end.
Ireland won the toss and batted first to compile a hard earned 210 for the loss of 8 wickets. Left handed Opener Eoin Morgan anchored the innings a patient 51 having batted for 112 balls. His sedate innings still had a couple of sixes in what was his third ODI half century. Middle order batsman Kevin O’Brien chipped in with 34 from 42 balls with two fours and a six while the fireworks at the final phase of the innings was provided by Dave Langford-Smith, who smashed three sixes in his unbeaten 13-ball 31. For Netherlands, Mudassar Bukhari picked up three for 45 in 9 overs.
Mudassar Bukhari was sent in as the opener by the Dutch and he didn’t disappoint his team mates by scoring a superb 71 from 114 balls with 9 fours and two sixes. His opening stand with the young Alexei Kervezee itself was a solid one with 84 on the board. Netherlands were put into a winning position with just 19 to win from 30 balls with seven wickets standing. However, they lost the plot needlessly losing three wickets for six runs in 16 balls that got Ireland back into the game out of nowhere. Towards the end, seven runs were required by the visitors but they could only get five out of the final over bowled by the medium pacer Kevin O’Brien. The Irish bowlers although they struggled to take wickets in a hurry, they always were in for a chance because of their economical bowling efforts.