Bowlers secure narrow win for the Netherlands

A six in the last over by Ehsan Nawaz wasn't enough for Hong Kong as it succumbed to a 13-run defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in the ICC World Cricket League Championship on Saturday (February 17).

Netherlands got off to a brilliant start as Ben Cooper (78) and Michael Rippon (53) notched up half-centuries to provide a solid base for a big total. A 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Cooper and Roelof van der Merwe (28) allowed the Netherlands to post a total of 314 for 9, Peter Borren, the captain, chipping in with a quick-fire 49 off 43 balls.

The pick of the bowlers for Hong Kong was Ehsan Khan with figures of 3 for 59 while Nadeem Ahmed picked up 2 for 49, both bowlers completing their full quota of overs.

Just as the top order had set up a good total for the Netherlands, Hong Kong's too made good ground in the chase. Anshuman Rath (85) and Babar Hayat (86) put on a partnership of 64 runs for the second wicket while the opening partnership between Rath and Christopher Carter (24) yielded 80 runs. Hayat also had another 50-run plus partnership with Nizakat Khan (41) for the third wicket.

Hong Kong was 221 for 4, with 94 runs needed in the last 10 overs. With Hayat at the crease, it seemed the side was on track to win. But the Netherlands bowlers stifled the batsmen and the boundaries soon dried up. As the required rate kept climbing, the run-out of Hayat in the 48th over was the nail in the coffin as the target proved to be just beyond Hong Kong's reach.