SYLHET, BANGLADESH // After firing the Netherlands to the most extraordinary run-chase in the short history of Twenty20 cricket, Stephan Myburgh admitted he did not even know where his side have to head next.
The Dutch earned a place in the Super 10 phase of the World Twenty20 in a stunning flurry of sixes, chasing down 190 to beat Ireland in only 13.5 overs on Friday.
They will enter Group A and open their campaign against Sri Lanka in Chittagong on Monday.
They also need to make sure Myburgh gets on the right bus.
“I’m actually not even sure which group we are going into,” said Myburgh, whose 23-ball innings of 63 included seven sixes.
“We only wanted to qualify for the next round. We weren’t just thinking about winning.
“To get 190 in 20 overs, given that the field is not that big, is probably a par score, but to chase it in 14 overs you need a little bit of luck.”
Peter Borren, the captain and one of the holdovers from the Dutch side that shocked England at Lord’s in the 2009 World T20 opener, said victory felt like a dream.
"We had nothing to lose, and in Twenty20 cricket that can be a dangerous thing for the opposition," Borren said.
“When Stephan got out, or when I got out, or when Tom Cooper got out, you think that is maybe the end of that dream run.
“But credit to the guys that came in. Ben Cooper hit a big six, the last two big bombs that Wesley Barresi hit were fantastic. It won’t happen like that every day.”
Defeat was tough on Ireland, who had looked well-placed to advance as group winners, only to finish third.
"You have to give the Dutch batsmen credit for the way they cleared the ropes," said William Porterfield, Ireland's captain.
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