Associates play for pride before exit

Kevin O'Brien has a few scores to settle against Netherlands © AFP Enlarge

The Associate teams have been the subject of major debate this World Cup and opinion remains divided over the ICC's decision to restrict the number of competing sides to 10 in 2015. Ireland have done the most to justify the Associates' presence this tournament, consistently challenging top sides with the exception of South Africa. They've been the best of the four qualifiers for this World Cup, the best-placed among that group to feature more regularly against the elite teams, and they would want to reinforce that with a clinical performance against Netherlands on Friday in what will be both teams' last World Cup game.

The Netherlands captain Peter Borren has repeatedly stressed the need for Associate teams to play the top sides more often, not just in World Cups. Since pushing England close, Netherlands have declined steadily, their captain admitting they haven't met their own standards. A winless World Cup would be deflating at the least, and it's a harsh result for a team that would perhaps feel it is in the wrong group, given how the other two Associates have performed this tournament. A win, however, against an opponent who've won the respect of the cricketing world would restore some pride in a team that has, by its own admission, underperformed.