ICC/CricketEurope

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An unbroken 4th wicket partnership of 212 between John Mooney and Thinus Fourie ensured Ireland enjoyed a facile 127 run over Denmark in the second game of the European ‘A’ Championships in The Netherlands.

Coming together at 81 for 3 in the 16th over, the pair combined watchful defence with some powerful hitting, as the Danish fielding and bowlers wilted after an encouraging start, enabling Ireland to make a huge score of 293 for 3 in their 50 overs.

Mooney scored 115 not out from 130 balls, hitting 10 boundaries, predominantly through the off side, while Fourie favoured the leg side, primarily through midwicket. Fourie’s unbeaten 88 came from 101 balls, and included 6 fours.

Both players had let offs, but nothing easy was offered. Mooney was missed on 47 and 78, dropped at mid on and deep long on, but both he and Fourie deserved their luck, and both ran excellently between the wickets.
Chris Dougherty (23), Ryan Haire (16), and James Shannon (20) all got starts, and looked impressive in their cameo knocks, before each found ways of getting themselves out.

Kanayia had Dougherty caught at midwicket by Larsen, who also held on to a catch from the first ball bowled by Finn Kleissl. 39 for 0 had suddenly became 40 for 2, and Denmark sensed an opening. Shannon played some lovely off side stokes before driving tamely to Kleissl off Hayat at mid off. That was to be the last Danish success of the innings.

Neil Gill got the early wicket of Mickey Lund, bowled for just 5, but Denmark buckled down, and both Rohit Kanayia (38) and Omar Hayat (24) played well in adding 50 for the 2nd wicket. Hayat was bowled by a John Mooney ball which cut back and removed his off stump, and the same bowler trapped MaxOvergaard in front with a well flighted slower ball.

Kanayia was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Ryan Haire at mid-off and from that point, it was only a matter of the Irish getting the overs in before the weather closed in.

George Dockrell, a late replacement for Regan West bowled well in taking 2-31, while Andrew Balbirnie (1-29) also bowled tidily. Allan Coulter was rested, but Neil Gill stepped in well and completed his spell taking 2-26, including the wicket of Jacob Larsen, who had the consolation of striking the only six hit of the day – a huge effort which cleared the adjacent canal.

Despite some lusty late striking from Melad Navabi (22) and Bashir Shah (19), the final word went to skipper Ryan Haire, who claimed the wicket of Navabi with his fourth delivery, as Denmark were dismissed for 167, leaving the Irish winners by 127 runs.

Only a comprehensive Scotland win can now deny the Irish when the final games are played tomorrow.