Super Over heroics wins it for Ireland

Super Over heroics wins it for Ireland

Trent Johnston was Ireland's hero as they beat the Netherlands in an eliminator finish to their ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match at Lord's on Monday.



The Irish players celebrate after Trent
Johnston ran out Bas Zuiderent
After both sides made 135, the match came down to a one-over eliminator.

Ireland could only manage six for one in their over but knew if they took two wickets in the 'eliminator' before the Dutch had got to seven that the game would be theirs.

Australia-born Johnston struck third ball when Bas Zuiderent was stumped by Gary Wilson for two off three deliveries.

And Johnson then ran out Darron Reekers by throwing down the stumps at the bowler's end as Ireland somehow managed to defend their meagre eliminator over score.

Earlier, the Netherlands made 135 for nine and Ireland 135 for seven.

Ireland, chasing 136 for victory, slumped to 15 for two inside four overs.

But Paul Stirling was not overawed and hoisted Ryan ten Doeschate for six to bring up Ireland's fifty.

Stirling was going well, having put on 56 in 46 deliveries with Andre Botha, when he was run out for 27 going for a third by Smits's direct hit following good work on the boundary by Pieter Seelaar.

And five balls later left-arm spinner Seelaar turned 71 for three into 75 for four when he effectively yorked Kevin O'Brien.

The middle-order collapse continued when Botha, having made a better than run-a-ball 35, went down the pitch to Seelaar only to be stumped by wicket-keeper and Dutch captain Jeroen Smits.

Ireland needed nine to win off Seelaar's final over.

The spinner struck second ball when Gary Wilson was stumped for 22 down the legside by the impressive Smits.

Regan West hit his first ball down the ground for four and then took two off the next to leave Ireland needing two off two for victory.

That became two off one when West missed with a heave and a single off the last ball left the scores level and the match all square.

Earlier, the Netherlands made 135 for nine.

Essex all-rounder ten Doeschate top-scored with 29 in an innings where no other batsman made more than 20.

Off-spinner Kyle McCallan led the attack with three wickets for 32 runs from his maximum four overs, including two in two balls.