van der Gugten, Seelaar help Netherlands seal one-run win over Ireland

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.

Although van Beek took two early wickets in the chase by dismissing William Porterfield and Andy Balbirnie, it was left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar who was Netherlands' star with the ball with his three-wicket haul. After dismissing Lorcan Tucker lbw in the middle overs, he removed Andy McBrine and Barry McCarthy in the 47th over to give Netherlands the advantage. He conceded just 27 in his nine overs, leaving Ireland eight down after his double-wicket blow. That eventually hurt Ireland further as Singh looked to retain strike in the final over and was run out trying to come back for a second off the first legal ball of the 50th over.

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.

van der Gugten, who also dismissed Stirling when Ireland looked on course to complete their recovery, was named Player of the Match.