So, that's all for the day. As usual it was a pleasure bringing you the ball-to-ball coverage of this nail-biting series. Lots of cricket coming up in the upcoming few days. We'll be back soon with PSL and other cricketing coverage. Till then... it's tata and goodnight from me, Anurag Dasgupta and my co-commentators, Arjun Bhalla and Vikhyat Jain.
Stephan Myburgh was adjudged the player of the match for his match-winning knock of 74.
Anurag: Earlier in the day, Ireland won the toss and elected to bat first. Ireland were jolted with three early wickets as Fred Klaassen was at his menacing best, moving the ball both ways and constantly troubling the opposition with pace. At one stage, Ireland were tottering at 28 for 3 when George Dockrell joined hands with Harry Tector and the duo added 89 runs for the 4th wicket. Tector looked composed and scored a fine half-century before he was dismissed for a well compiled 58. Once Tector departed, wickets started tumbling at regular intervals and Ireland could only manage to score 163, which was not enough to defend in the end.
Anurag: At 67 for the loss of 2 wickets. Netherlands needed a solid partnership and debutant Musa Ahmad joined hands with Myburgh and steadied the sinking ship. Just when the duo started to lay a strong foundation for the middle order, Ahmad was dismissed for 19, by a peach of a delivery from the man in-form, Joshua Little. However, Myburgh stood like a wall and scored a gritty half-century, but by the time he was sent back to the pavilion for a magnificent 74, the game was almost done and dusted, barring a few hiccups in the end. For the Irish team, Simi Singh was the standout bowler, picking up 3 wickets and keeping the screws tight from one end.
Anurag: Chasing 164 on a tricky wicket here at Utrecht, the Orange Army got off to a flying start, with both Myburgh and Max O’Dowd looking to play with a positive frame of mind. The duo took on the bowling attack and played some exquisite shots to bring up their fifty partnership. Just when Netherlands were looking to run-away with the game, Simi Singh was brought into the attack and he immediately foxed O’Dowd with a googly that castled his stumps. Barry McCarthy’s short stay in the middle also came to an end when the right-hander poked at an outside the off stump delivery and was grabbed at slips by Paul Stirling.
Anurag: That’s it, the match has ended and Netherlands have won this game by 4 wickets and in the process have clinched the 3-match ODI series, 2-1. It has been a terrific team effort by the Dutch boys, many many congratulations to them.
45.5 S Singh to Beek
4 FINALLY !!!!!! ITS DONE NOW!!!! A full ball and Beek dances down the track and smokes his drive through the mid-off for a boundary. A series win for the Dutch
W NO NO NO!!!! Is there a twist in the tail? Seelaar sits down to sweep it but gets struck in the line and even the modest of appeals convinced the umpire to raise his finger
45.1 S Singh to P Seelaar
0 Short and punched to the mid-on for no run
OVER 45.0
Netherlands
162/5
Ben Cooper
0(3)
Pieter Seelaar
4(4)
Andy McBrine
1-25(6.0)
44.6 A McBrine to B Cooper
0 Touch short angling into the batsman, who punches it back to the bowler form his backfoot
44.5 A McBrine to B Cooper
0 On the good length again, front foot defense from Cooper
W WICKET!!!! What should have ended a few overs back, the Netherlands is making the game a bit interesting. Leede steps down looking to finish off the game but miscues his lofted drive to the mid-on fielder