DESPITE A STUNNING 57 in just 38 balls from Andrew Poynter and a seemingly insurmountable total of 189-4, Ireland are out of the ICC World Twenty20 after defeat to the Netherlands this afternoon.
Ireland, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe all finished on four points but it will be the Dutch who go through to the Super 10s on the basis of a better net run rate.
Needing 190 in 14.2 overs, the Netherlands got off to an incredible start, scoring no fewer than 82 runs for the loss of no wickets in their first five overs with Stephan Myburgh (63 from 23) and Peter Borren (31 off 15) doing the early damage.
It hardly got any better for Ireland as, despite three wickets in as many overs, the Dutch onslaught kept coming with George Dockrel dispatched for four sixes in succession in the 11th over to reach 157-3.
Phil Simmons’ men will wonder what might have been though as Ed Joyce dropped Tom Cooper on one before the Dutch batsman raced to 45 in just 15 balls before eventually being caught out but it was too little too late and the Netherlands reached their required total with three balls to spare.
Ireland got the game off to the best possible start after being put in to bat by the Dutch. Captain William Porterfield set the tempo with a quick-fire 47 while Ed Joyce kept the scoreboard ticking over with a solid 28 before being run out.
Kevin O’Brien had his best ever Twenty20 innings with an unbeaten 42 but it was Poynter’s 57 that looked to have seen Ireland into the Super 10s phase of the tournament.
However, it was not to be.
