Americas go down fighting to Netherlands

The Netherlands beat back a spirited challenge from Americas to win their Group 2 Plate championship match at the Radella grounds by seven runs on Sunday.

Put in to bat, Netherlands scored 226 for seven in 50 overs. Opener K Shafiq led the way with a patient 49 off 112 balls, inclusive of five hits to the ropes. But a sharp middle order collapse saw them slump to 124 for seven. However a breezy unbroken eighth wicket stand of 102 runs off 13.1 overs between E Nawaz (58) and F Nijman (30) helped Netherlands post a good total. Nawaz faced only 53 balls and hit five fours and two sixes. The total was inflated by as many as 43 extras.

When Americas batted, opener C Foggo and skipper A Bagai (36) added 55 runs for the second wicket off 14.3 overs. Then after four wickets had fallen for 104 runs, Foggo and O Pitcher (35) added 86 runs for the fifth wicket off 17.2 overs to keep Americas in the fight. The fall of Foggo for 91 at this stage was a major blow. Foggo faced 152 balls and hit 12 fours. SH Elani tried his best to sustain Americas' hopes with a bright 17 off eight balls with a six and a four but ultimately the Americas fell tantalisingly short of their target, ending at 219 for eight.