Both teams go into their final game knowing they are out of the World T20 tournament and as far as dead rubbers go, this takes some beating.
However, with Ireland and Netherlands both desperate to play some cricket after Friday’s washouts, the two teams will be keen to exit the tournament on a high.
For the Dutch their camp has become a disappointed one with the manner of their defeat to Bangladesh and a 2016 calendar of fixtures that is bare.
Peter Borren took aim at the ICC’s structuring of the tournaments and handling of the lesser nations and is determined his side bow out in the best possible manner, showing their worth on this stage.
It is a sentiment shared by Irish skipper William Porterfield who will need to pick his Irish players up as they seem bereft of confidence.
Their humbling by Oman was followed by an inept eight overs against Bangladesh, the team looking sure that the heavens would open like they did and bring an end to proceedings.
Further rain is expected on Sunday and may well bring a disappointingly damp end to the tournament for both countries.
WHAT THEY SAID
Borren: “We love playing against Ireland. They’re a team we’ve had good success against recently and it’s always a good game of cricket. Hopefully we can put on a good show. It could be a really flowing game and pretty entertaining. Hopefully everyone can see what teams like Ireland and Holland are capable of. We’ve got an opportunity and I don’t think it will be too tough to motivate the team for it.”
Porterfield: “We’re still disappointed to lose [to Oman] as it’s a game we really should’ve been winning. [Against Bangladesh] we missed a couple of chances, but these things happen and I’m not awfully bothered about it. It’s a big game against Holland where both sides are out of the competition but will want to leave on a winning note.”
LAST FOUR RESULTS
NED
- Oman (match abandoned)
- Bangladesh (153-7) beat Netherlands (145-7) by 8 runs
- Scotland (N/R)
- Afghanistan (152-9) beat Netherlands (136/4) by 16 runs
IRE
- Bangladesh (match abandoned)
- Ireland (154-5) lost to Oman (157-8) by two wickets
- Ireland (155/8) lost to Zimbabwe (160/4) by 6 wickets
- Hong Kong (120/7) lost to Ireland (122/0) by 10 wickets
PREDICTION
The Irish just do not seem up for this and must surely be setting their sights on leaving India and starting the post-mortem. For the Dutch, although “emotional” after their exit according to Borren, they played some good cricket against Bangladesh and should translate their frustrations on to the pitch and show the ICC what they’re missing.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Netherlands: Netherlands: Myburgh, Barresi, B Cooper, Borren (c), T Cooper, Van der Merwe, Seelar, Bukhari, Van Beek
Ireland: Porterfield (c), Stirling, Wilson, N O’Brien, K O’Brien, A Poynter, McBrine, Sorensen, Murtagh, Rankin, Dockrell