A Yummy Time for the Boys from Amstredam

Seaxe Man reports from thriller of a game and victory against Holland.  With the usual attention for detail this report was never going to be produced as final ball was bowled, but hope this has been worth the wait.  

Weather: Sunny and windy. LUL was running.
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> Game Overview.
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> The Dutch arrived at HQ on the back of two back to back wins, namely Yorks and Derbyshire. This a was the first time they had managed back to back wins v county opposition. In both games they batted first and were able to defend their totals. The first v Yorkshire being by a margin of two runs.
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> In his match preview notes. Don Shelley remarked that the first ever match played by an English team in Holland was in 1881 at Scheveningen where Uxbridge Cricket Club comprising eleven players, took on a Netherlands team of 22 players in a two day match.
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> The twenty two of the Netherlands were bowled out for just 14 in their first innings: Uxbridge replied with 107ao before bowling out the Dutch for 33 in their second knock. Of the Uxbridge bowlers, Cole took 23 wickets and Sugden 16 wickets.
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> So much for the history, suffice to say, given their World Cup 50/50 exploits, where they nearly defeated England, things have improved since then.
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> On their performance in this match, they will trouble all of the counties IMHO.
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> Our new friend Jonathan Liew headlined his article ' Middlesex hold nerve in face of Dutch courage'. To quote him further ' A contest fit for the world's greatest ground, a shining advert for the 40 over game, and a finish that gripped every player and spectator to the very last'. Holland gave the ICC a reminder of their growing stature in the game.
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> There was an excellent attendance, improved still further for the Kent game. The decent crowd,included a fair few well inebriated Dutch fans, who cheered their team to the rafters.
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> The attendances over the weekend suggests that the punters prefer the Sunday afternoon aspect of the CB40.
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> CB40 regs.
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> After trawling around Cricinfo, I eventually found the detail of the 'powerplay' regs which do not appear in the programme or score card.
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> To whit, there are now four powerplays. The first of eight overs, is arbitrary. Powerplay2 is at the bowling side's discretion, and Powerplay3 at the batting side's discretion.
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> And so to the match.
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> The bare details: Middlesex 286 for 5: Holland 285 for 6.
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> Teams Middlesex
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> Newman
> Malan
> Stirling
> Dexter
> Berg
> Scollay
> Rayner
> Scott
> Ireland
> Murtagh
> Roland Jones
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> Anthony Ireland making his Middlesex debut. Collymore, Smith and Williams being the men left out.
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> Holland
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> Szwarcynski
> Barresi
> Cooper
> Swart
> de Grooth
> Borren
> Mott
> Bukhari
> Kruger
> Westdijk
> Seelar
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> Westdijk replaced Heggelman at number 10.
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> Holland won toss ad elected to field.
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> Middlesex innings
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> Mott and Bukhari opened the Dutch bowling. The opening stand of 120- by Newman and Malan was notable for a lot of powerful driving by both batsman.Very entertaining. Newman looked on course for a ton when he was taken by de Grooth off Swart for 73, with an ambitious drive. His wicket fell in over 19. A great start for the Middle.
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> Malan was joined by Stirling and the forceful shotmaking continued much to the crowd's delight.
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> In over 11, the Dutch keeper and opener Barresi was injured trying to take a catch and was replaced by Tommy Cooper (just like that) for the remainder of the innings.
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> He (cooper) took a blinding catch to dismiss Paul Stirling for a powerful 45. This bloke does'nt reckon on running singles.
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> Dawid also looking as though a ton was there for asking, after smashing a DLF maximum (six) into the grandstand, in trying to repeat the stroke next ball, was taken by Dutch captain Borren off Seelar for an entertaining 90.
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> At 224 for 3. Middle looked on course for 300odd. However the introduction of the Dutch slower bowlers, slowed the pace, and it was three consecutive fours off the final three balls, Eoin Morgan style, by Ollie Rayner which boosted the total to 286 for 5. Scollay with 17 and skipper Dex with 23no played a couple of cameos.
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> Holland innings.
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> Murtagh and Roland -Jones opened the bowling. Barresi though off the field since over 11, resumed to open with Szwarcynski. They added only 16 before Szwarcynski was run out for 2. Tommy Cooper joined Barresi and they continued to over 11 when Barresi was unluckily run out for 38 with a deflection onto the stumps.
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> This was a lucky break for The Middle as he was going well at that juncture. Swart did'nt last long being lbw to Rayner for 7.
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> At this point, Cooper and de Grooth embarked on what was to nearly bring about victory with a stand 126. Finally broken when de Grooth was unbelievably caught and bowled by Paul Stirling. The ball must have been hit back at him at a ton at least. Borren was removed for 7 by Stirling and Kruger for 2 by Berg.
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> So, 219 for 6. The fun then started. Cooper was joined by Bukhari. Thy embarked on a 6 over stand of 0f 66 which nearly brought victory.
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> The Dutch shrewdly IMHO opinion took the batting powerplay3 for the last four overs. The last ball of which saw them on 284 for 6, so a boundary was required for a win. Fortunately, the last ball from Murts was hit towards wide mid off, who was able to field and restrict to a single. So victory to The Middle by a single run. A yard either side would probably been a Dutch victory.
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> The last four overs produced 58 runs. Cooper finishing on 126no and Bukhari on 36no.
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> Match stats.
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> Middlesex 10 overs 60 for 0 - Holland 53 for 1
> Middlesex 20 overs 125 for 1 - Holland 107 for 3
> Middlesex 30 overs 208 for 2 - Holland 189 for 3
> Middlesex 40 overs 286 for 5 - Holland 285 for 6.
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> Tommy Cooper's 126no broke MG Dighton's previous highest of 110no v Derbyshire at Derby in 2010. Gareth Berg unfortunately for him, was bowling during the Dutch Powerplay3 when they, to put it mildly, were going for it. Commisserations Gareth on the 7-0-70-1.
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> As the total of runs approaching 600 suggest. A v.good batting track. The faster bowlers of both sides bore the brunt of this, the slower bowlers as they often do in onedayers, escaping most of the the carnage.
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> Scott Newman's 73 took 66 balls with 14 fours. Malan's 90 took 85 balls with 8 fours and one 6.
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> Have only the stats for Tommy Cooper's 50 which took 52 balls with 5 fours.
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> So two out of two in CB40. A good start.
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> Seaxe Man