Van Meekeren takes 4-11 as Netherlands beats Ireland

Van Meekeren takes 4-11 as Netherlands beats Ireland

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:45 a.m. ET

DHARAMSALA, India (AP) Pace bowler Paul van Meekeren grabbed 4-11 as Netherlands defeated Ireland by 12 runs on Sunday in their cricket World Twenty20 Group A game reduced to six overs per side due to rain.

Put into bat, the Netherlands scored 59-5 with opener Stephen Myburgh striking an 18-ball 27 with five fours. Irish left-arm spinner George Dockrell took 3-7.

Ireland could only reach 47-4 in reply with van Meekeren ending its hopes with the wickets of Max Sorensen (9) and George Dockrell (0) off consecutive deliveries in the last over.

''It's special,'' van Meekeren said. ''The captain told me to bowl short of length and into the stumps and it was perfect conditions for me. We had been preparing for this for the last three weeks, maybe six months, and it worked out well.''

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Paul Stirling top-scored for Ireland with 15

Both sides were out of contention for a place in the main Super 10 stage with just one point from their two previous games in the four-team group.

The final game of the group between Bangladesh and Oman will determine who joins India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand in Group 2 of the Super 10s, which starts on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in a practice game, the West Indies defeated Australia by three wickets with just one ball remaining.

Australia scored 161-9 off 20 overs after electing to bat. Shane Watson top-scored with 60 off 39 balls with four fours and four sixes while Steven Smith (36) and Aaron Finch (33) were the other main scorers.

For the West Indies, Dwayne Bravo took 4-21.

Australia pace bowler Josh Hazlewood then produced a hat trick in the fourth over of the match. Hazlewood trapped Jason Holder leg before wicket (6) and then bowled Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo for golden ducks to finish with 3-13.

However, captain Darren Sammy produced a match-winning 50 off 28 balls with six fours and one six. Carlos Brathwaite (33) and Andre Russell (29) were the other main contributors.

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