Netherlands top after nail-biter

Netherlands 237 for 9 (Parry 4-29) beat Lancashire 236 (Moore 77, Croft 55, Jamil 4-24, Swart 4-40) by one wicket
Scorecard

Netherlands took over at the top of Group A in the Clydesdale Bank 40 thanks to a nail-biting win over Lancashire in Schiedam. The last-wicket pairing of Timm van der Gugten and Ahsan Malik managed to sneak the home side to their target of 237 with just two deliveries to spare.

Stephan Myburgh (34) and Michael Swart (41) had given the Netherlands the perfect start in their run chase, sharing an opening stand of 83 inside 10 overs. There were also contributions from middle-order duo Cameron Borgas, who made 30, and wicketkeeper Wesley Barresi before Mudassar Bukhari belted a breezy 36 in the closing stages to give the Dutch renewed hope.

When he fell with nine still required, Lancashire looked to be favourites, however Van der Gugten made a run-a-ball 15 not out to finish the job off and give his side a third win in four outings in this season's competition.

Stephen Parry claimed 4 for 29 in a losing cause for previously unbeaten Lancashire, who had been bowled out for 236 earlier in the day.

Lancashire should have set their opponents a much tougher challenge after openers Stephen Moore and Ashwell Prince laid the foundations by putting on 89. Moore blasted 10 fours and a six to top score with 77 from 66 balls and even when he fell in the 20th over, the visitors still seemed to be making smooth progress.

They reached 199 for 2 before suffering a dramatic collapse, losing their last eight wickets for just 27 runs once Karl Brown had departed for 41. Steven Croft (55) fought a lone hand from then on, but no other Lancashire batsman managed to make more than eight. Swart and Malik did the majority of the damage for the Dutch, claiming four wickets apiece.