Dutch delight in Bristol

Benny Howell: smashed an unbeaten 51-ball 72 in losing cause

Pieter Seelar: picked up four-wicket haul

A brutal 77 from Stephan Myburgh laid the foundation for the Netherlands' one-run victory over Gloucestershire in the opening Clydesdale Bank 40 match at Bristol on Sunday.

The opener raced to his total off just 72 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes, as the visitors ran up 239-6 after losing the toss.

Cameron Borgas (38), Mudassar Bukhari (32) and Wesley Barresi (30) lent positive support, while Ed Young returned 2-31 from eight overs.

After falling behind the run rate Gloucestershire rallied with a brilliant 72 not out off 51 balls from Benny Howell, only to fall agonisingly short as Pieter Seelaar picked up 4-42.

With 13 required 13 off the last over, Batty hit Bukhari to the boundary, but with three needed off the final delivery Howell could manage only a leg-bye.

Myburgh had signalled his intent from the start, dispatching the second ball of the match from Will Gidman over mid-wicket for six.

Breakthrough

The 28-year-old left-hander went on to dominate an opening stand of 84 with Michael Swart (24), reaching his half-century off 42 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

Left-arm spinner Young made the breakthrough in the 14th over, bowling Swart as he played across the line. Chris Dent followed up by having Peter Borren caught at midwicket for 15.

The impressive Myburgh helped take the total to 152 before being snapped up by Ian Cockbain at long-on off the bowling of off-spinner Dent.

It was 167-4 when Borgas was adjudged lbw to Young to end a bright 44-ball knock and 176 -5 when Tom Cooper was taken at deep square off Kane Williamson's off-spin for 13.

The visitors were far from finished as Barresi and Bukhari added 58 in quick time to boost the total before Barresi was bowled by the first ball of the final over from Ian Saxelby.

In reply Gloucestershire were left to rue their early batting, which saw them make only 87 for one off their first 20 overs.

Alex Gidman, who opened with brother Will, took 69 balls to make 41 and when he was caught in the deep 141 runs were needed off just 16 overs.

Howell, signed on trial after being released by Hampshire, did his hopes of a contract no harm by hitting four fours and two sixes but could not quite carry his new team to victory.

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