Swart knock brings another win
Holland stretched their lead at the top of Group A with a 43-run victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road.
04-Jun-2012
Netherlands 304 for 3 (Swart 102) beat Leicestershire 261 for 9 (Sarwan 115)
Scorecard
Scorecard
Holland stretched their lead at the top of Group A with a 43-run victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road. Put in to bat, Netherlands posted their competition-best total of 304 for 3, with Michael Swart making a maiden one-day century and sharing a record second-wicket stand of 152 with Tom Cooper.
Despite a brilliant 115 from Ramnaresh Sarwan, bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire were unable to end their dismal run in the competition, finishing on 261 for 9 to slump to their fourth defeat in five games. For Netherlands it was their fifth win in seven matches having already beaten Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Lancashire and Essex. Swart followed up his century by taking 3 for 55.
Stephan Myburgh gave the visitors a flying start, hitting a massive six off the fourth ball of the innings from Alex Wyatt. Another followed off Nathan Buck as Myburgh raced to 37 off 27 balls before being brilliantly run out by Josh Cobb - he made a great diving stop off his own bowling, and then whipped the ball back to wicketkeeper Ned Eckersley before Myburgh could regain his ground having set off for a single.
But Myburgh's quick-fire knock set the tone and the partnership between Swart and Cooper took the innings to another level as Leicestershire were left chasing the ball to all parts.
Swart survived a difficult chance to Michael Thornely at cover and reached his 50 off 63 balls with three boundaries.Then he began to cut loose, hitting three sixes off Claude Henderson as the stand surpassed the previous best of 132 against Worcestershire at Kidderminster. Cooper was no slouch either, pulling Nathan Buck to the ropes to reach 50 off 53 balls.
The next landmark was Swart's century, reached off 96 balls with three sixes and five other boundaries. But he was out two runs later, skying a catch to long on off Wayne White. Cooper followed at 229 giving a return catch to Cobb having scored 68 off 67 balls.
But Cameron Borgas, with an unbeaten 61 off 33 balls, and Mudassar Bukhari kept the runs flowing, 74 coming off the last six overs as Holland posted their biggest score against county opposition.
Thanks to Sarwan, Leicestershire made a brave effort to chase down the target but once he had gone for 115 off 89 balls with nine fours and a six they had little hope. Jacques du Toit was the next highest scorer with 48 and White hit an aggressive 32 but Holland deservedly chalked up their third win in a row.