Ireland needed 12 runs in the final over with two wickets in hand and Simi Singh batting on 44 but Netherlands fast bowler Logan van Beek conceded only ten to give his side a one-run win in their first World Cup Super League match in Utrecht. With three needed off the last ball, No. 10 Josh Little failed to connect an attempted paddle, and the one bye collected meant Ireland finished on the wrong side of the result.
The momentum swung both ways through the day. Netherlands were bowled out for 195 to give Ireland the upper hand at the break. Ireland were then reduced to 11 for 3 in their chase after which Paul Stirling and Singh brought the visitors back into the contest. But the run-out of Singh in the final over once again made Netherlands favourites, and van Beek held his nerve to give his team their first points of the World Cup Super League.
Earlier in the day, Timm van der Gugten‘s 49 from No. 9 pulled Netherlands out of the hole. He came to bat when his side was 102 for 7 in the 33rd over after Little took a three-wicket haul early on and the hosts’ woes were compounded with two run-outs. However, van der Gugten hit four sixes and one four in his 53-ball innings to take Netherlands past 170. van Beek also contributed 29 from No. 8 to help Netherlands reach close to 200.
Netherlands 195 (van der Gugten 49, Little 3-32, Young 3-34) beat Ireland 194 for 9 (Stirling 69, Singh 45, Seelaar 3-27) by one run