Ireland became the first team to qualify for the 2015 Cricket World Cup on Tuesday after a thrilling tie with the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Ed Joyce top-scored for Ireland with an unbeaten 96 in the team’s competitive total of 5-268. But South African-born Michael Rippon, playing only his second one-day international, stole the show for the Dutch by smashing the last two balls of the match for four and six to bring the Netherlands level off their 50 overs.
The tie means Ireland is now guaranteed one of the two qualifying spots from the ICC World Cricket League Championship for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The result also put the Netherlands in a strong position to take the other qualifying berth.