Ireland well on top against Netherlands

Ireland are totally in control of their game against The Netherlands at Newforge after the first day's play. They scored a mammoth 401 for 6 declared, the highest total at any Europe Under age tournament, albeit with this competition being under a different format.

The Irish took 91 overs to accumulate their runs, pacing their innings superbly, as the Netherlands attack wilted in the heat. Their bowlers weren't helped by the fact that the outfielding was very poor, with a succession of missed chances at crucial periods.

It had all began so well for them , with the week's double centurion, Paul Stirling, making just 16 before being bowled by Davey. That was to be their solitary success of the morning session, as Chris Dougherty and Ben Ackland set about reconstructing the innings. The pair added 178 for the second wicket, with Dougherty scoring a magnificent 107. He hit 14 fours and two sixes, and faced 159 balls, to follow up his earlier two half centuries against Denmark.

Ackland missed out on a deserved hundred, being bowled by Kervezee when he had 73. Jamie Shannon, 50, and Graham Mc Donnell, 39, added 73 for the 4th wicket, before the real onslaught began. After tea the instruction went out to up the tempo, and with a flurry of boundaries, the Irish raced to the 400 mark.

Skipper Greg Thompson reached his half century in just 38 balls, while Stevie Moore blasted 30 not out in just 17 deliveries, landing two sixes on the roof of the Newforge pavilion.

With 50 minutes left in the day, the Netherlands batsman were looking to survive. They didn't manage it very well, as Thompson trapped his counterpart, Thomas Heggelman, for just 3. Keaveney had Seelaar caught behind, but all the while Kervezee was staying resolute.

That all changed in the final over of the day, as Ben Ackland bowled Kervezee for 35 with his first ball, and off the final ball of the day, had Davey caught by Stirling, to leave Netherlands floundering on 48 for 4, and with a mountain to climb.