Dutch bow to spirited Spearman

A CENTURY stand between Craig Spearman and Stephen Fleming steered New Zealand to an emphatic 119-run victory over Holland in Baroda yesterday. Already buoyant after beating England in their opening World Cup group B match, the Kiwis piled up 307 for eight in their 50 overs and restricted the Dutchmen to 188 for seven.

Spearman, who hit 68, and Fleming, with a characteristically fluent 66, set a rapid tempo in their second-wicket partnership of 116 that was sustained by thunderous middle-order hitting from Chris Cairns, with 52, and Adam Parore, who struck 55.

The Dutch won the hearts of a 20,000 crowd for their fine fielding under pressure, but their batsmen never looked like getting near the required run rate of 6.16 an over.

"I am happy with the performance of my boys, everything went according to our plan," said the Dutch skipper Steven Lubbers. "We played under pressure with all those people watching us." Holland's total was boosted by the Australian-born opener Peter Cantrell and Glamorgan's Roland Lefebvre. Both hit 45, Cantrell striking five fours in his 85-ball knock and Lefebvre four boundaries in 68 balls.

Earlier, the man of the match Spearman and Fleming repaired the early damage after Nathan Astle, who made 101 in the victory against England, was run out in the first over for nought with the score on one. A direct throw from Lefebvre hit the stumps with Astle short of his ground after the opening batsman had responded hesitantly to Spearman's call.

New Zealand

C M Spearman c Zuidenent b Lubbers 68

N Astle run out 0

S P Fleming c Zuidenent b Lubbers 66

R G Twose st Schewe b Lubbers 25

C L Cairns b Cantrell 52

A C Parore c Clarke b Aponso 55

C Z Harris c Schewe b Bakker 8

*L Germon not out 14

D N Patel c Schewe b Bakker 11

D K Morrison not out 0

Extras (lb7 w1) 8

Total (for 8, 50 overs) 307

Fall: 1-1 2-119 3-155 4-165 5-253 6-279 7-292 8-306.

Did not bat: R J Kennedy.

Bowling: Lefebvre 10-0-47-0; Bakker 10-0-51-2; de Leede 7-0-58-0; Aponso 10-0-61-1; Lubbers 9-0-48-3; Cantrell 4-0-35-1.

Holland

N E Clarke b Kennedy 14

P E Cantrell c Astle b Harris 45

F Aponso c Astle b Harris 11

*S W Lubbers run out 5

R P Lefebvre b Kennedy 45

T B M de Leede lbw b Harris 1

K J van Noortwijk not out 36

M Schewe st Germon b Fleming 12

B Zuidenent not out 1

Extras (b3 lb5 w8 nb2) 18

Total (for 7, 50 overs) 188

Fall: 1-18 2-52 3-66 4-100 5-102 6-147 7-181.

Did not bat: E Gouka, P J Bakker.

Bowling: Morrison 4-1-1-0; Kennedy 10-2-36-2; Cairns 7-1-24-0; Harris 10-1-24-3; Patel 10-0-43-0; Astle 5-0-20-0; Fleming 2-0-8-1; Twose 2-0-14-0.

Umpires: I Robinson and Khizar Hyat.

New Zealand beat Holland by 119 runs.