Ireland swat aside Netherlands after Curtis Campher heroics

Campher claimed four wickets in as many balls as the Irish bowled out the Dutch for 106 and completed the chase with 29 balls remaining

Abu Dhabi: Netherlands 106, Ireland 107-3 - Ireland won by seven wickets

Scorecard

Ireland took a giant stride towards the Super 12 after Curtis Campher produced a record-breaking bowling display to help beat Netherlands with ease in their opening men's T20 World Cup clash in Abu Dhabi.

The 22-year-old claimed four wickets from successive deliveries, becoming the fourth player to achieve the feat in 20-over international cricket.

Rashid Khan, Lasith Malinga and Anuradha Doddaballapur are the only other players to have done so previously.

Campher is also the first player representing Ireland to claim a hat-trick in an official T20I.

Netherlands looked comfortable at 51 for 3 but quickly unraveled after Campher dismissed Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards and Roelof van der Merwe in the 10th over.

Max O'Dowd was powerless to influence events at the other end and struck 51 to give the innings of just 106 all out some respectability. They recorded five first ball ducks across their allocation, the most in men's T20I history.

Andrew Balbirnie's outfit never had any issues in the chase and gave their net run-rate a health boost by reaching the target with 29 balls to spare.

Paul Stirling produced an uncharacteristically watchful innings, a 39-ball 30 which only included two boundaries. It was his slowest score above four since February 2019.

Kevin O'Brien and skipper Balbirne showed glimpses of form but were dismissed in the single figures. Gareth Delany ultimately provided the fireworks, hammering 44 from 29 balls as the Dutch wilted.

It was fitting that Campher had the last word. Delany was bowled by Pieter Seelaar but the allrounder kept his cool with a run-a-ball seven to see his side to victory with time to spare.

It leaves Ireland just a win away from virtually assuring themselves a place in the Super 12, with matches against Sri Lanka and Namibia to come. Netherlands meanwhile know they must probably win both of their remaining fixtures to stand any chance of progressing.

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